An official with the Missouri Department of Social Services briefed a House Interim Committee Monday on Gov. Jay Nixon’s proposed rule change to cut able-bodied adults without children from the food stamp program if they don’t have a job.
Allison Campbell with the department’s Family Support Division says they initially sought to implement the change Oct. 1 via emergency rule, but she admits that approach was a mistake.
“What that doesn’t do is allow time for people to give public comment and consideration into that rulemaking process," Campbell said. "So we withdrew the emergency rule that we had filed.”
Campbell says they have now filed a regular rule change proposal that will be made public Nov. 1 and will allow for public comment. She also says the move is an effort to “get back to the spirit of the law” by encouraging able-bodied food stamp recipients to find work.
The proposal would exempt some Mo. counties, where unemployment rates are at 10 percent or higher.
