MONTGOMERY — Members of the Senate General Fund Budget committee passed legislation requiring a State agency to apply for a waiver from the federal government to exclude some junk food from the SNAP program.
The bill by State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) would require the Department of Human Resources to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service to exclude candy and soda from the definition of eligible food for purposes of SNAP benefits. If the waiver is granted, this bill would require the department to prohibit the purchase of candy and soda with SNAP benefits. The bill would also require the department to annually resubmit the request for a waiver if the request is denied.
Orr said 18 other states have requested similar legislation. Orr said the bill was part of an effort to improve Alabamians' health and decrease obesity.
"This bill does not reduce the benefit at all. It would reduce the products that can be purchased in a pretty finite way," Orr said.
State Sen. Merika Coleman (D-Birmingham) called the legislation "paternalistic."
"It assumes that people that are on these benefits don't know how to make the correct decisions for their children," Coleman said.
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