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Statement of Need: Public Law 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977, to add some new eligibility requirements and disqualifiers and increase some existing penalties for noncompliance with food stamp rules. The new law: (1) Makes individuals convicted of drug-related felonies ineligible for food stamps; (2) doubles the penalties for violating food stamp program requirements; (3) permanently disqualifies individuals convicted of trafficking in food stamp benefits of $500 or more; (4) allows States to disqualify an individual from food stamps if the individual is disqualified from another means-tested program for failure to perform an action required by that program; (5) makes individuals ineligible for 10 years if they misrepresent their identity or residence in order to receive multiple food stamp benefits; (6) makes fleeing felons and probation and parole violators ineligible for the food stamp program; (7) allows States to require food stamp recipients to cooperate with child support agencies as a condition of food stamp eligibility; (8) allows States to disqualify individuals who are in arrears in court-ordered child support payments; (9) limits the food stamp participation of most able-bodied adults without dependents to 3 months in a 3-year period during times the individual is not working or participating in a work program; (10) prohibits an increase in food stamp benefits when households' income is reduced because of a penalty imposed under a Federal, State, or local means-tested public assistance program for failure to perform a required action; (11) requires States to provide households' addresses, social security numbers, or photographs to law enforcement officers to assist them in locating fugitive felons or probation or parole violators; and (12) prohibits an increase in food stamp benefits when households' income is reduced because of a penalty imposed under a Federal, State, or local means-tested public assistance program for an act of fraud by the individual under the program.

Summary of the Legal Basis: All of the provisions of this rule are mandated by Public Law 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

Alternatives: None.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: Over 7 years, the provisions are expected to reduce the cost of the Food Stamp Program by approximately $5.565 billion.

Risks: None.