House Bill hb1409

    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1409

        By Representative Lerner






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the food stamp program;

  3         amending s. 414.31, F.S.; providing a

  4         methodology for valuing vehicles as assets for

  5         purposes of food stamp eligibility; providing

  6         rulemaking authority; providing a deadline for

  7         implementation; providing an effective date.

  8  

  9         WHEREAS, the Legislature intends to encourage the

10  residents of the state to be self-sufficient, and

11         WHEREAS, the Legislature further intends to provide

12  support for individuals and families who participate in the

13  labor force, and

14         WHEREAS, since the state is lacking any real statewide

15  public transportation, the value of a reliable vehicle is

16  recognized, and

17         WHEREAS, recent actions by the United States Congress

18  allow for a higher assets disregard on vehicle ownership in

19  the programs designed to support working families and

20  individuals--the  ood stamp, temporary assistance for needy

21  families, and Medicaid programs, and

22         WHEREAS, it is the intent of this legislation to bring

23  the state's vehicle allowance for the food stamp program to

24  the same level as any program providing assistance under the

25  state program funded under part A of Title IV of the Social

26  Security Act, NOW, THEREFORE,

27  

28  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

29  

30         Section 1.  Subsection (3) is added to section 414.31,

31  Florida Statutes, to read:

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                HB 1409

    778-112-01






  1         414.31  State agency for administering federal food

  2  stamp program.--

  3         (3)  The state elects, within the provisions of Pub. L.

  4  No. 106-387, to adopt more liberal methodologies for valuing

  5  vehicles as assets for purposes of food stamp eligibility than

  6  the regular food stamp rules allow. The department is directed

  7  to exclude from consideration as an asset the value of the

  8  vehicles of food stamp applicants and recipients to the same

  9  extent that vehicles' values are financially excluded as

10  assets under any program providing assistance under the state

11  program funded under part A of Title IV of the Social Security

12  Act. Additionally, the department shall apply the most

13  favorable rules of resource exclusion, and the most favorable

14  rules for treating nonprimary vehicles, from either the food

15  stamp program or any program providing assistance under the

16  state program funded under part A of Title IV of the Social

17  Security Act. The department is authorized to adopt rules to

18  implement this subsection, which rules shall be implemented no

19  later than January 1, 2002.

20         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

21  law.

22  

23            *****************************************

24                          HOUSE SUMMARY

25  
      Provides a methodology for valuing vehicles as assets for
26    purposes of food stamp eligibility that excludes certain
      such vehicles from consideration. Directs the Department
27    of Children and Family Services to adopt and implement
      rules by January 1, 2002.
28  

29  

30  

31  

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.