[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2811 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2811
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow for blended
workforces to carry out the supplemental nutrition assistance program
under certain conditions, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 10, 2025
Mr. Bacon (for himself and Mr. Rouzer) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow for blended
workforces to carry out the supplemental nutrition assistance program
under certain conditions, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
(a) This Act may be cited as the ``SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. SNAP STAFFING FLEXIBILITY.
(a) Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act (7 U.S.C. 2020) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(y) SNAP Staffing Flexibility.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 11(e)(6)(B) of
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, a State agency (as defined
in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008) may, by
contract with the State agency at a reasonable cost in
accordance with the State agency's standard contracting rules,
hire a contractor to undertake supplemental nutrition
assistance program certification or carry out any other
function of the State agency under such program so long as--
``(A) the contract does not provide incentives for
the agency or contractor to delay eligibility
determinations or to deny eligibility for individuals
otherwise eligible for supplemental nutrition
assistance program benefits; and
``(B) the contractor has no direct or indirect
financial interest in an approved retail store.
``(2) Use.--A State agency may use the authority provided
in paragraph (1) when the State experiences increases in
supplemental nutrition assistance program applications or an
inability to timely process such applications from causes that
include but are not limited to--
``(A) pandemics and other health emergencies,
``(B) seasonal workforce cycles,
``(C) temporary staffing shortages, and
``(D) weather or other natural disasters.
``(3) Requirements.--A State agency that hires a contractor
under paragraph (1) shall ensure such action--
``(A) is consistent with all principles under
section 900.603 of title 5 of the Code of Federal
Regulations; and
``(B) is part of a blended workforce and does not
supplant existing merit-based personnel in the State.
``(4) Notification.--A State agency shall notify the
Secretary of its intent to use the authority provided in this
section and shall provide any information or data supporting
State agency increases in supplemental nutrition assistance
program applications or any inability to timely process such
applications.
``(5) Public availability.--Not later than 10 days after
the date of the receipt of a notification submitted by a State
agency under paragraph (4), the Secretary shall make publicly
available on the website of the Department of Agriculture the
notification submitted by such State agency and any
accompanying information or data supporting such notification
so submitted.
``(6) Annual report.--The Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the
Senate, an annual report that contains--
``(A) a description of measures taken to address
increases in supplemental nutrition assistance program
applications and any inability to timely process such
applications;
``(B) information or data supporting State agency
notifications provided pursuant to paragraph (4); and
``(C) recommendations for changes to the
Secretary's authority under this Act to assist the
Secretary, States, and local governments of States in
preparing for any future increases in supplemental
nutrition assistance program applications or inability
to timely process such applications.
``(7) Temporary staffing shortages.--In cases of temporary
staffing shortages, the authority provided to State agencies
under paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) expire when the backlog of supplemental
nutrition assistance program applications has been
eliminated; and
``(B) not override any collective bargaining
agreement or memorandum of understanding in effect
between the State and employees of the State or of a
local government of such State.''.
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