AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- THE RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM (Provides that a family eligible for cash assistance pursuant to § 40-5.2-11, shall if qualified, be provided SNAP benefits.)

H7394

2026 -- H 7394
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LC004309
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- THE RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM

Introduced By:
Representatives Place, Santucci, Fascia, and Hopkins

Date Introduced:
January 28, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 40-5.2-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-5.2 entitled "The Rhode
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Island Works Program" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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40-5.2-11. Cash assistance.
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(a) A family or assistance unit found by the department to meet the eligibility criteria set
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forth in this chapter shall be eligible to receive cash assistance as of the date a signed, written
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application, signed under a penalty of perjury, is received by the department.
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(b) The family members or assistance unit shall be eligible for cash assistance for so long
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as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria outlined in accordance with this chapter. Parents and
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adult non-parent caretaker relatives receiving cash assistance shall be eligible so long as they meet
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the terms and conditions of the work requirements of § 40-5.2-12. An adult caretaker relative shall
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be eligible for assistance as a member of the assistance unit so long as he or she meets all the
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eligibility requirements of this chapter.
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(c) The monthly amount of cash assistance shall be equal to the payment standard for the
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family minus the countable income of the family in that month. The department is authorized to
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reduce the amount of assistance in the month of application to reflect the number of the days
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between the first day of the month and the effective date of the application.
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(d) A decision on the application for assistance shall be made or rejected by the department
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no later than thirty (30) days following the date submitted and shall be effective as of the date of
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application.

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(e) The payment standard is equal to the sum of the following: five hundred ten dollars
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($510) (four hundred forty-five dollars ($445) for a family residing in subsidized housing) for the
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first person; one hundred ninety-one dollars ($191) for the second person; one hundred sixty-four
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dollars ($164) for the third person; and one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) for each additional
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person.
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(f) A family or assistance unit eligible for cash assistance pursuant to the provisions of this
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section shall if otherwise qualified, be enrolled for assistance in the supplemental nutrition
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assistance program (SNAP) pursuant to the provisions of chapter 6 of title 40.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- THE RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM
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This act would provide that a family eligible for cash assistance pursuant to § 40-5.2-11,
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shall if qualified, be provided SNAP benefits.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004309
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LC004309 - Page 3 of 3