(a)  The department shall have the responsibility to administer the food stamp program for the state in compliance with the provisions of the federal Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended, 7 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq. The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is and shall be the new title of the program formerly known as the food stamp program. All references in the Rhode Island general laws to food stamps shall be deemed to mean, apply to, refer to, and be interpreted in accordance with the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP).

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 40-6-8

(b)  The department is empowered and authorized to submit its plan for food stamps to the federal government, or any agency or department of it, as follows:

(1)  The department shall act for the state in any negotiations relative to the submission and approval of a plan, and may make any arrangement or changes in its plan not inconsistent with this chapter that may be required by the Food Stamp Act or the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to it to obtain and retain such approval and to secure for this state the benefits of the provisions of the federal act relating to food stamps;

(2)  The department shall make reports to the federal government, or any agency or department of it, in the form and nature required by it, and in all respects comply with any request or direction of the federal government, or any agency or department of it, that may be necessary to assure the correctness and verification of the reports; and

(3)  The department shall develop a plan to streamline the application, certification, and recertification process for SNAP beneficiaries aged sixty (60) years and over.

(c)  The department is authorized and directed to pay one hundred percent (100%) of the state’s share of the administrative cost involved in the operation of the food stamp program.

(d)  No person shall be ineligible for food stamp benefits due solely to the restricted eligibility rules otherwise imposed by § 115(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-193), 21 U.S.C. § 862a(a)(2), and as this section may hereafter be amended.

History of Section.
P.L. 1987, ch. 118, art. 13, § 2; P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 34, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 26, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 25, § 4; P.L. 2010, ch. 181, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 186, § 1; P.L. 2022, ch. 163, § 1, effective June 27, 2022; P.L. 2022, ch. 164, § 1, effective June 27, 2022.