Two lawmakers presented bills to the House Government Oversight and Accountability committee Monday that seek to change various aspects of the state's welfare system.
Rep. Wanda Brown, R-Lincoln, said one bill would verify someone's eligibility for benefits.
"It would create a checks and balance system for what people are earning and the benefits they're getting," said Brown, the bill's sponsor. "It's to ensure the benefits go to the people who really need them."
Rep. Jay Barnes, cosponsor of the bill, said some of this is already being done by the state.
"This puts it in statute, so that if this administration or a later one changes their mind, they can't," said Barnes, R-Jefferson City. "We want to make sure that those who apply for welfare do indeed qualify for welfare."
Another bill presented by Brown and cosponsored by Barnes would temporarily suspend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) money to anyone using it out of state for 90 days or more.
"The intent is not to cause grief for anyone who truly needs benefits," Brown said. "This would send up a red flag to social services to check why they're out of state."
Barnes presented two bills to the committee. One would remove a mandate that requires a hearing after an applicant or recipient of TANF tests positive for drug use. It would allow an applicant or recipient to request a hearing.
Barnes said that out of more than 250 hearings in 2013, only two resulted in success for the TANF recipient.
Barnes' second bill would establish a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pilot program to provide participants with access and the ability - using their benefit cards - to afford fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets.
"It's about fresh foods for better nutrition," Barnes said.
Several organizations testified in favor of the bill, including Gayla Brockman with the Menorah Legacy Foundation in Kansas City.
The foundation, in collaboration with Cultivate Kansas City, founded the Beans & Greens program in the city. The program brings "locally grown produce to underserved neighborhoods."
"We know that bringing fresh, healthy produce to all persons does result in healthy outcomes," Brockman said.
Dan Kuebler, vice president of Missouri's Farmers Market Association, said a similar program established for WIC (Women, Infants and Children) recipients in Columbia has seen great results over its five-year existence.
"We focus on WIC recipients because we felt it was important to teach young women, young families and children more about good, healthy food," he said.
He said he's very much in favor of Barnes' proposed pilot program.
"I think it's immensely important for our population," he said. "It helps our farmers greatly, and it helps us grow."