(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) Arkansas has made great strides in promoting work for able-bodied adults across other public assistance programs;(2) Arkansas can continue those initiatives by further creating opportunities and spurring economic development by improving its workforce;(3) Arkansas provides Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to more than one hundred twenty-three thousand (123,000) able-bodied adults without young children;(4) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Arkansas should be protected and preserved for the truly vulnerable;(5) Most able-bodied adults receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in Arkansas do not work at all;(6) Arkansas has the opportunity under federal law to refer able-bodied adults to employment and training programs;(7) Arkansas has more than thirty-two thousand six hundred (32,600) open jobs; and(8) Arkansas is projected to create more than one hundred sixty-six thousand (166,000) jobs in 2019.
(1) Arkansas has made great strides in promoting work for able-bodied adults across other public assistance programs;
(2) Arkansas can continue those initiatives by further creating opportunities and spurring economic development by improving its workforce;
(3) Arkansas provides Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to more than one hundred twenty-three thousand (123,000) able-bodied adults without young children;
(4) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Arkansas should be protected and preserved for the truly vulnerable;
(5) Most able-bodied adults receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in Arkansas do not work at all;
(6) Arkansas has the opportunity under federal law to refer able-bodied adults to employment and training programs;
(7) Arkansas has more than thirty-two thousand six hundred (32,600) open jobs; and
(8) Arkansas is projected to create more than one hundred sixty-six thousand (166,000) jobs in 2019.
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that this subchapter shall increase employment and self-sufficiency among able-bodied adults who are receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.