Permitting a nutrition class to be an appropriate activity under the FoodShare employment and training program

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as FoodShare in this state and formerly known as the food stamp program, provides benefits to eligible low-income individuals and households for the purchase of food. FoodShare is administered by the Department of Health Services (DHS). The state and the federal government share the cost of administration and benefits are paid entirely with federal funds. Under current law, DHS may require a FoodShare recipient who is able and 18 to 60 years of age to participate in the FoodShare employment and training program (FSET), unless the recipient is participating in a Wisconsin Works employment position, is the caretaker of a child under the age of six years, or is enrolled at least half time in school, a training program, or an institution of higher education. Individuals participating in FSET must fulfill any work, employment search, or training requirements set by the entity administering FSET. With some exceptions, a FoodShare recipient who is an able-bodied individual between the ages of 18 and 50 who does not fulfill certain work requirements is eligible for FoodShare benefits for no more than three months during a three-year period. Participation in FSET satisfies those work requirements.

Under this bill, DHS is required to permit a participant in FSET, including an individual who is an able-bodied individual between the ages of 18 and 50 who is required to fulfill certain work requirements to remain eligible for FoodShare benefits, to attend a class on nutrition as an appropriate work or employment and training activity. The class must be available in the participant's community and offered for free or at a low cost. DHS must count the number of hours spent in the class toward the fulfillment of any amount of time that the participant is required to spend working or on employment and training activities. In addition, the bill provides that, if DHS determines that it may not permit a participant in FSET to attend a nutrition class as an appropriate work or employment and training activity without a federal waiver, DHS must request a waiver from the federal department of agriculture and may not implement the requirement under the bill unless the waiver is granted and in effect.

Who's behind it

14 lawmakers are its authors⁠. All 14 are Democrats.