Gov. Susana Martinez's administration has proposed a return to old rules that would expand work, training and job-search requirements for low-income New Mexicans to qualify for food stamps.
The rules proposed by the Human Services Department would require parents of children older than 6 to participate in up to 80 hours a month of specified activities. That could include community service work.
Rules that tie food assistance to activities such as job searches and training are currently imposed on most single, able-bodied adults age 18 to 50. That would be expanded to include 16- through 60-year-olds.
More than one-fifth of New Mexico residents participate in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. It's unclear how many of them would be affected by the changes.
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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com
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