HB 2144 -- SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD STAMP ASSISTANCE

SPONSOR:  Whorton

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Senior
Citizen Advocacy by a vote of 10 to 0.

This bill authorizes the Family Support Division within the
Department of Social Services to assist elderly individuals who
qualify for the federal Food Stamp Program in obtaining
supplemental food stamps.  Subject to appropriations, households
of one or two elderly individuals who are at least 65 years of
age will be entitled to receive supplemental assistance.

Qualified households consisting of one eligible elderly
individual will receive supplemental assistance; however, the
benefit combined with the aid the individual receives under the
federal program cannot exceed $30 per month.  Qualified
households of two eligible elderly individuals cannot receive
combined assistance exceeding $60 per month.

The provisions of the bill will expire August 28, 2010.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of
$2,326,365 in FY 2009, $2,450,160 in FY 2010, and $408,360 in
FY 2011.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and
FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will increase the
minimum amount for food stamp assistance for seniors to $30
instead of $10.  The bill could be considered an economic
incentive because it will increase food sales for grocers and
will save the state money in the long run by decreasing health
care costs to malnourished seniors.  The elderly cannot survive
on $10 a month to buy enough food to last for a month.  It has
been 34 years since the minimum $10 benefit was established.  The
bill has an expiration date in two years so that the benefit can
be re-evaluated, is subject to appropriations, and has no current
funding in the budget.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Whorton; Rebecca
Flaherty; Missouri Association for Social Welfare; AARP-Missouri;
and Patrice Donehue, Silver Haired Legislature.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm