SB 136

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as

FoodShare in Wisconsin and formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides

benefits to eligible low-income 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. Benefits, which are electronically

debited to a Quest card, are paid entirely with federal funds. Under federal

regulations, there is no limit on the number of replacement cards that must be issued

to a household for cards that are reported lost, stolen, or damaged. However, under

the federal regulations, a state may opt to require a household member to contact the

state agency to provide an explanation if the number of replacement cards requested

reaches a threshold that is determined to be excessive. The threshold for an

excessive number of replacement cards may not be less than four within a 12-month

period. The household must be given notice that it has reached the threshold and

that it must contact the state agency. If a household member does not contact the

state agency, no replacement card is issued and the case is referred for investigation.

This bill directs DHS to request a waiver from the secretary of the federal

Department of Agriculture, no later than six months after the bill goes into effect,

to allow DHS to limit the number of replacement cards that it must issue in a

12-month period to a FoodShare recipient who reports that his or her Quest card has

been lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed to four replacement cards in a 12-month

period. If the waiver is granted and in effect, DHS may limit, to the number

authorized under the waiver, the number of replacement cards that it issues to a

FoodShare recipient in a 12-month period.