Add SNAP ABAWD discretionary exemption hook

changelog.d/snap-abawd-discretionary-exemptions.added.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Added SNAP ABAWD discretionary exemption hook: parameter for the exemption share of covered individuals under 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)(6) and a person-level input ORed into the ABAWD time limit exceptions.

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/usda/snap/work_requirements/abawd/discretionary_exemption_rate.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+description: States may exempt individuals from the Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) time limit up to this monthly average share of covered individuals under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
+
+values:
+  # 15% for FY1998-2019 — 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)(6)(C)-(D), added by the
+  # Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33).
+  1997-10-01: 0.15
+  # 12% for FY2020-2023 — 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)(6)(E), Agriculture Improvement
+  # Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334, Section 4005).
+  2019-10-01: 0.12
+  # 8% for FY2024 and each subsequent fiscal year — 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)(6)(F),
+  # Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5, Section 312).
+  # OBBBA (P.L. 119-21, Section 10102) did not amend 2015(o)(6).
+  2023-10-01: 0.08
+
+metadata:
+  unit: /1
+  period: year
+  label: SNAP ABAWD discretionary exemption rate
+  # Discretionary exemptions are assigned by state caseworkers and are
+  # unobservable in survey data; like takeup, they are assigned during
+  # microdata construction rather than at simulation time.
+  economy: false
+  reference:
+    - title: 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)(6) - Exemptions from the ABAWD time limit
+      href: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/7/2015#o_6
+    - title: 7 C.F.R. § 273.24(g) - Discretionary exemptions
+      href: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/7/273.24#g
+    - title: Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5), Section 312
+      href: https://www.congress.gov/118/plaws/publ5/PLAW-118publ5.pdf
+    - title: Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), Section 4005
+      href: https://www.congress.gov/115/plaws/publ334/PLAW-115publ334.pdf
+    - title: Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33), Section 1001
+      href: https://www.congress.gov/105/plaws/publ33/PLAW-105publ33.pdf

policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/gov/usda/snap/eligibility/work_requirements/meets_snap_abawd_work_requirements.yaml

@@ -461,3 +461,42 @@
     state_code: CA
   output:
     meets_snap_abawd_work_requirements: false
+
+# =====================================================
+# State discretionary exemptions — 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)(6),
+# 7 CFR 273.24(g). Assigned at data-construction time.
+# =====================================================
+
+- name: Case 33, discretionary-exempt noncompliant ABAWD meets requirement.
+  period: 2026-01
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.1
+  input:
+    age: 30
+    weekly_hours_worked_before_lsr: 1
+    is_disabled: false
+    is_snap_abawd_discretionary_exempt: true
+    state_code: TX
+  output:
+    meets_snap_abawd_work_requirements: true
+
+- name: Case 34, identical non-exempt person does NOT meet requirement.
+  period: 2026-01
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.1
+  input:
+    age: 30
+    weekly_hours_worked_before_lsr: 1
+    is_disabled: false
+    is_snap_abawd_discretionary_exempt: false
+    state_code: TX
+  output:
+    meets_snap_abawd_work_requirements: false
+
+- name: Case 35, pre-HR1 discretionary exemption also applies.
+  period: 2022
+  input:
+    age: 30
+    weekly_hours_worked_before_lsr: 1
+    is_disabled: false
+    is_snap_abawd_discretionary_exempt: true
+  output:
+    meets_snap_abawd_work_requirements: true

policyengine_us/variables/gov/usda/snap/eligibility/work_requirements/is_snap_abawd_discretionary_exempt.py

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+from policyengine_us.model_api import *
+
+
+class is_snap_abawd_discretionary_exempt(Variable):
+    value_type = bool
+    entity = Person
+    label = "Exempt from the SNAP ABAWD time limit via a state discretionary exemption"
+    documentation = (
+        "State agencies may exempt individuals from the Able-Bodied Adult "
+        "Without Dependents (ABAWD) time limit up to a monthly average share "
+        "of covered individuals under 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)(6) (8 percent from "
+        "fiscal year 2024, previously 15 and then 12 percent). These "
+        "exemptions are individually assigned by state caseworkers and are "
+        "unobservable in survey data, so this input defaults to false and is "
+        "intended to be assigned at data-construction time (e.g., in "
+        "populace) among covered individuals."
+    )
+    definition_period = YEAR
+    reference = (
+        "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/7/2015#o_6",
+        "https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/7/273.24#g",
+    )

policyengine_us/variables/gov/usda/snap/eligibility/work_requirements/meets_snap_abawd_work_requirements.py

@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ def formula(person, period, parameters):
         is_pregnant = person("is_pregnant", period)
         # (F)-(G) Indian, Urban Indian, or California Indian.
         is_indian_exempt = person("is_snap_abawd_indian_exempt", period)
+        # State discretionary exemption — 7 U.S.C. 2015(o)(6).
+        # Assigned at data-construction time among covered individuals.
+        is_discretionary_exempt = person("is_snap_abawd_discretionary_exempt", period)
         # TODO: HI/AK delayed adoption (2025-11-01) to be handled
         # in a follow-up PR via state-level hr1_in_effect parameters.
         base_conditions = (
@@ -54,6 +57,7 @@ def formula(person, period, parameters):
             | exempt_parent
             | work_reg_exempt
             | is_pregnant
+            | is_discretionary_exempt
         )
         # Pre-HR1 exemptions: homeless, veteran
         is_homeless = person.household("is_homeless", period)