ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul, Monday, signed legislation establishing a statewide Restaurant Meals Program as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The measure mandates the state apply for USDA approval to authorize the program, which would allow homeless, elderly, and disabled SNAP recipients to use their benefits for prepared or hot food from participating restaurants.
Prior to the signing of this bill, SNAP recipients could not use their benefits for prepared or hot food from participating restaurants.
That prevented many populations that do not have access to cooking or food preparation on their own from using SNAP benefits.
