The Senate passed a bill on Friday that would expand requirements for work or employment training for able-bodied adults without dependents to receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Senate Bill 562 would also extend the age range for people affected to 59. The age range under current law and procedure is 18 to 52.
Testimony earlier this week in the Senate Workforce committee indicated about 8,000 West Virginians could be affected by the changes.
The legislation would require any report by the Department of Human Services measuring data about the mandatory SNAP education and training program submitted to the federal government also be submitted to the ​Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability and that the department make a list of employment and training resources available in each county office.
There is a three-year implementation schedule for the changes, one that proponents say is a compassionately structured plan to ween able-bodied adults without dependents off of SNAP benefits.
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m.
Senate Judiciary will meet at 2:30 p.m. in 208W
