(a) The Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the member agencies of the Child Poverty and Prevention Council, may work with local governments, institutions of higher education, community action agencies and other entities to continue and expand efforts, within available appropriations, to enroll eligible individuals in the supplemental nutrition assistance program and to enroll eligible supplemental nutrition assistance participants in education, employment and training activities.

(b) The Commissioner of Social Services, within available appropriations, shall incorporate into existing efforts coordinated outreach to increase awareness and utilization of the supplemental nutrition assistance program by eligible individuals, including, but not limited to, recipients of home-delivered and congregate meals and recipients of public assistance.

(c) For the purpose of determining eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program pursuant to the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended from time to time, the Department of Social Services, to the extent permitted under federal law, shall consider any student enrolled in an institution of higher education in the state to be participating in a state or federally financed work-study program if such student receives approval of work-study as part of a financial aid package to attend such institution of higher education, regardless of whether such student has received his or her work-study program assignment.