Bill > HB174

This bill enacts the No Hungry Families Act, which establishes a program to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who have been victims of electronic benefit theft recover stolen benefits. The program allows households to apply for replacement of benefits stolen through methods like card skimming, card cloning, phishing, and scamming, with some key restrictions. Eligible households can receive replacement benefits up to the lesser of the amount stolen or two months of their monthly allotment, but no household can receive replacement benefits more than twice in a fiscal year. To qualify, households must submit an application within 90 calendar days of the theft, provide documentation, and demonstrate the theft through evidence such as fraudulent transactions at known problematic retailers, unusual transaction patterns, or transactions outside of normal shopping habits. The bill defines various types of electronic benefit theft and sets specific criteria for determining eligibility, including that the theft must have occurred on or after December 21, 2024. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will administer the program, and households can appeal denied claims. The legislation is accompanied by an appropriation of $17 million in the first fiscal year to fund the benefit replacement program, highlighting the state's commitment to protecting vulnerable families from electronic benefit theft.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb174