HOUSE BILL 235

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Ben Lujan

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD STAMP ASSISTANCE FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED; CREATING THE SIMPLIFIED TARGETED ELIGIBILITY PROGRAM; ENACTING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. A new section of the Public Assistance Act, Section 27-2-10.1 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:

     "27-2-10.1. [NEW MATERIAL] SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD STAMP ASSISTANCE--QUALIFICATIONS AND BENEFITS--ELDERLY AND DISABLED--SIMPLIFIED TARGETED ELIGIBILITY PROGRAM.--

          A. Subject to the availability of state funds, supplemental food stamp benefits shall be provided pursuant to the "simplified targeted eligibility program" for the elderly and disabled by the income support division of the department.

          B. Supplemental food stamp benefits shall be provided to or on behalf of households in which all members:

                (1) are age sixty years or older or are disabled;

                (2) reside in a one- or two-person household in which all members receive supplemental security income or old age, survivors and disability insurance or a combination of the two; and

                (3) are otherwise qualified to receive federal food stamp benefits.

          C. The supplemental benefit shall increase an eligible household's total monthly food stamp allotment to a minimum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per month in food stamp benefits.

          D. The department may by rule limit the amount of supplemental benefit that is made to eligible elderly or disabled recipients."

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--One million three hundred thousand dollars ($1,300,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the human services department for expenditure in fiscal year 2006 to provide supplemental food stamp benefits for the elderly and disabled pursuant to the simplified targeted eligibility program. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert to the general fund.

     Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2005.

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