An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in general powers and duties of the Department of Public Welfare, providing for child support requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

PRINTER'S NO. 209
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 261
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY PHILLIPS-HILL, PENNYCUICK, J. WARD, STEFANO AND
CULVER, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in general powers and
duties of the Department of Public Welfare, providing for
child support requirements for Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
read:
Section 217. Child Support Requirements for Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program.--(a) The department shall elect
the option under 7 CFR 273.11(o) (relating to action on
households with special circumstances) to require an individual
living with and exercising parental control over a child under
eighteen years of age who has an absent parent to cooperate with
the department's division of child support services in
establishing paternity of the child and in establishing,
modifying or enforcing a support order with respect to the child
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in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 654(29) (relating to State plan
for child and spousal support), in order to be eligible to
participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
(b) The department shall elect the option under 7 CFR
273.11(p) to require a putative or identified parent of a child
under eighteen years of age to cooperate with the department's
division of child support services in establishing the paternity
of the child and in providing support for the child in order to
be eligible to participate in the food stamp program.
(c) The inability of the putative or identified parent to
comply with the requirement under this section, as determined by
the department's division of child support services or an
appropriate court of law, shall preclude a determination of
ineligibility to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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