AK HB167

Custodial and noncustodial parents must cooperate with the child support services agency to participate in the food stamp program, unless they have good cause for refusing to cooperate.

Noncustodial parents with past due child support obligations are ineligible for food stamps until a court approves a payment schedule and they are in substantial compliance, or they have good cause for nonpayment.

The child support services agency must determine whether food stamp applicants and participants are cooperating in good faith with child support enforcement and notify the Department of Health and Social Services of its determination.

The Department of Health and Social Services must establish a good-cause exception process for custodial parents, including cases involving domestic violence or when cooperation is not in the child's best interest.

Disqualification from food stamps applies only to the individual parent, not the entire household, and remaining household members' eligibility is recalculated based on adjusted income.