SB 261 — An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in general powers and duties of the Department of Public Welfare, providing for child support requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

PRINTER'S NO.    209

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 261
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY PHILLIPS-HILL, PENNYCUICK, J. WARD, STEFANO AND
        CULVER, FEBRUARY 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, FEBRUARY 20, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
 2      act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
 3      welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in general powers and
 4      duties of the Department of Public Welfare, providing for
 5      child support requirements for Supplemental Nutrition
 6      Assistance Program.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
10   as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
11   read:
12      Section 217.    Child Support Requirements for Supplemental
13   Nutrition Assistance Program.--(a)      The department shall elect
14   the option under 7 CFR 273.11(o) (relating to action on
15   households with special circumstances) to require an individual
16   living with and exercising parental control over a child under
17   eighteen years of age who has an absent parent to cooperate with
18   the department's division of child support services in
19   establishing paternity of the child and in establishing,
20   modifying or enforcing a support order with respect to the child
 1   in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 654(29) (relating to State plan
 2   for child and spousal support), in order to be eligible to
 3   participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
 4      (b)   The department shall elect the option under 7 CFR
 5   273.11(p) to require a putative or identified parent of a child
 6   under eighteen years of age to cooperate with the department's
 7   division of child support services in establishing the paternity
 8   of the child and in providing support for the child in order to
 9   be eligible to participate in the food stamp program.
10      (c)   The inability of the putative or identified parent to
11   comply with the requirement under this section, as determined by
12   the department's division of child support services or an
13   appropriate court of law, shall preclude a determination of
14   ineligibility to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition
15   Assistance Program.
16      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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