GOVERNOR JIM PILLEN HAS SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTING THE NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO SUBMIT A STATE PLAN AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
THE AMENDMENT WILL STRENGTHEN RESTRICTIONS ON HOW TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN CASH BENEFITS MAY BE USED ONLY ON ESSENTIAL NEEDS.
PILLEN SAYS NEBRASKANS ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP FAMILIES IN NEED, BUT ALLOWING HARD EARNED TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO BE SPENT ON TOBACCO, GAMBLING, AND VIDEO GAMES IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
HE SAYS THE INAPPROPRIATE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS WILL END AT HIS DIRECTION:
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THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WILL FULLY COMPLY WITH THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER AND SUBMIT A STATE PLAN AMENDMENT TO THE A-C-F IMMEDIATELY.
THEY HAVE UP TO 60 DAYS TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT, AND ONCE APPROVED, D-H-H-S WILL IMPLEMENT THE AMENDMENT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND PROVIDE A TIMELINE UPON OBTAINING FEDERAL APPROVAL:
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UNDER EXISTING FEDERAL LAW AND STATE REGULATION, THE NEEDY FAMILY AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN FUNDS CANNOT BE USED FOR POINT OF SALE TRANSACTIONS AT LIQUOR STORES, GAMBLING CASINO, OR GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS, OR ANY RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT THAT PROVIDES ADULT-ORIENTED ENTERTAINMENT.
IF APPROVED, THE STATE AMENDMENT WILL EXPAND PROHIBITED PURCHASES TO INCLUDE TOBACCO, NICOTINE, VAPING, AND ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS, DRUGS, INTOXICANTS, SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS, AND SERVICES SUCH AS ENTERTAINMENT TICKETS, THEME PARKS, PLUS BODY ART, BODY PIERCINGS, COSMETIC SERVICES, AND LUXURY ITEMS SUCH AS SPA SERVICES, AND TANNING, AS WELL AS POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS, LOTTERY TICKETS SPORTS WAGERS, AND MUSIC, VIDEO, AND GAMING STREAMING SUBSCRIPTIONS, VIDEO GAMES, JEWELRY AND VIRTUAL GOODS.
