Public assistance; regular cross-checks required for Medicaid and food assistance eligibly, categorical eligibly for food assistance prohibited, eligibility for food assistance further provided for

SB 61 requires Alabama's Medicaid Agency and the State Department of Human Resources to verify eligibility for Medicaid and food assistance (SNAP) through regular data matching with state agencies, instead of accepting self-attested information. It prohibits using categorical eligibility for SNAP benefits (where eligibility for one program automatically qualifies for another) and mandates that SNAP income/asset standards align strictly with federal limits. The bill also requires monthly checks of death records, incarceration, and residency data, and quarterly reviews of employment and tax records to confirm ongoing eligibility. Additionally, it mandates public reporting of aggregated fraud investigation data and sets certification periods for SNAP benefits based on household characteristics.