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A04786
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
629
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY TOOHIL, GROVE, PASHINSKI AND SHUSTERMAN,
FEBRUARY 24, 2021
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AS AMENDED, JUNE 13, 2022
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in fiscal provisions
relating to public assistance, providing for distribution of
SNAP benefits.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
read:
Section 476. Distribution of SNAP Benefits.--The following
shall apply:
(1) Within six months ONE YEAR of the effective date of this
section, the department shall develop and implement guidelines
that require each county assistance office to distribute
benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) on a monthly basis using a uniform twenty-five-day
TWENTY-DAY distribution schedule.
(2) The department may implement a tiered distribution
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schedule in order to deter any hardships as a result of the
change in the distribution date under this section for an
individual receiving the benefits.
(3) The guidelines under this section shall utilize a method
which is uniform throughout this Commonwealth so that the
distribution date for benefits does not change if an individual
receiving benefits moves to a different county of residence in
this Commonwealth, including using the first letter of the last
name of an individual receiving benefits to set the date of
distribution.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
(1) Within one year of the effective date of this section,
the department shall, in collaboration with the department's
Income Maintenance Advisory Committee, develop and submit for
Federal approval guidelines to distribute benefits under the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on a monthly
basis using a uniform distribution schedule wit h up to twenty
payment days.
(2) The department may implement a tiered distribution
schedule in order to deter any hardships as a result of the
change in the distribution date under this section for an
individual receiving the benefits.
(3) The department shall implement the guidelines upon the
receipt of Federal approval under paragraph (1).
Section 2. Upon the department's receipt of an appropriation
necessary to implement the provisions of this act, the
department shall transmit notice of the appropriation to the
Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania
Bulletin.
Section 3. This act shall take effect as follows:
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(1) Section 2 of this act and this section shall take
effect immediately.
(2) The remainder of this act shall take effect upon
publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin of the notice under
section 2 of this act.
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