119-hr2811

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2811 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

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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