Bill to stagger food stamp payouts passes Senate

BOISE (AP) - Lawmakers said they hope a new bill that passed the Senate 33-2 on Tuesday will allow Idaho to stagger when food-stamp recipients receive money to buy groceries.

Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon, said spreading out the release of those funds over 10 days could help offset "grocery store chaos" on the first of every month.

The change could tackle consumers' frustration over long lines, as well as give stores time to restock in-demand products, Guthrie said. Grocers reported the biggest problems were felt in Idaho's largest cities, which have a higher concentration of the state's 218,000 receiving food assistance, also known as SNAP or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

"Grocery stores can't keep up with the demand," Guthrie said. He added that preventing a rush on stores would give Idaho's bakers, growers and dairy farmers have more time to get their goods onto tables around the state.

Idaho is one of only nine states that do not use a staggered-release system. The state switched to the single-day benefits payout in 2009 because of economic downturn.