Alabama Department of Human Resources Commissioner Nancy Buckner said Jan. 25 2024 that the department did not get sufficient notice to make a budget request to administer the summer food assistance program for low-income children. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector)
The Department of Human Resources commissioner said Thursday Alabama did not accept funding for a summer meal program because it was too late to request funding in the budget.
Alabama is one of 15 states that will not participate in the program, known as Summer EBT. DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner said at the department’s board meeting that it was not because the state was “philosophically opposed” to it, after some Republican-led states cited opposition to “welfare” in rejecting the federal funds.
“I’ve told [Gov. Kay Ivey] we can’t do it. We don’t have the money to pay that admin costs. And Dr. Mackey has told me he doesn’t have it to do his part of it either,” Bucker said.
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