Senate committee adopts SNAP-related resolution on workforce development
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Senate committee adopts SNAP-related resolution on workforce development February 25, 2025
Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, speaks Tuesday on Senate Resolution 18 during a meeting of the Senate Families and Children Committee. The resolution calls on state health officials to explore strategies for maximizing the use of a workforce development effort attached to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — The Senate Families and Children Committee adopted a resolution Tuesday to explore strategies for better using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training program in Kentucky.
Senate Resolution 18 calls for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to compile a report detailing findings, strategies and recommendations for expanding SNAP E&T utilization and submit a report to the general assembly by Dec. 1.
Sponsored by Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald A. Neal, D-Louisville, the resolution was adopted with an 8-0 vote. One legislator cast a pass vote.
“SNAP E&T is a powerful tool for Kentucky and businesses alike. It helps individuals receiving SNAP benefits to gain valuable job training education and workforce development opportunities while strengthening our state’s labor market by fully leveraging federal funding,” Neal testified. “We can expand access to training and employment services at no additional cost to the commonwealth.”
Neal said Kentucky and other states face workforce participation challenges – mainly in rural and underserved areas. The program provides critical services such as job search assistance, vocational training and support for employment barriers such as transportation and child care.
“By expanding our engagement with this program, we can help more individuals transition from public assistance into stable, higher paying jobs and reducing poverty rates and foster economic growth,” he said.
Jessica Klein, of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, testified that all states are required to operate a SNAP E&T program, and it’s up to the states to determine how they will operate.
“Kentucky’s program helps provide supports to SNAP participants between 16 and 59, and that’s a group we call work registrants in the SNAP program,” she said.
The voluntary program is operated by five key partners across Kentucky, and with additional engagement and the possibility of adding more partners, the program could expand, Klein said.
Sen. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, suggested Amazon as a potential partner, noting that the corporation just celebrated a workforce program graduation.
“So maybe that is an organization and entity that you all can talk to and partner with to figure out how we do make this work here in Kentucky,” she said.
Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, asked if the workforce opportunities in the program are taking away dollars from other existing programs.
CHFS Secretary Eric Friedlander said there are several different elements of the SNAP program, and one doesn’t take away from the other. He said it’s a supportive piece.
Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, R-Henderson, said the state needs workforce training, but said he’s concerned the legislature might have to authorize spending.
“I’m concerned slightly about the wording here where it says ‘implement strategies to maximize utilization’ because I think the administration has used those types of terms on drawdown of Medicaid dollars that have expanded Medicaid,” he said.
Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, asked if there should be a fiscal note with the resolution, and Committee Chair Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, said the matter at hand is a simple resolution.
Meredith cast a pass vote.
When Herron cast her vote, she recognized the other legislators’ concerns about possible funding.
“I want my colleagues to just know, I know there has been a little concern about what potential costs, if anything, but just remember whatever the cost is, it’s for workforce. So, if we’re putting anything in, the goal is that these individuals would have employment, higher education so that they then would not be utilizing the SNAP benefits program,” she said.
The resolution now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
News Releases are provided by the LRC Public Information Office. All photos are attributed to LRC Staff.
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/publicservices/pio/release.html#SNAP022525
