Bill Text: FL S0778 | 2013 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Transactions in Fresh Produce Markets
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-03 - Died on Calendar [S0778 Detail]
Download: Florida-2013-S0778-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2013 CS for SB 778 By the Committee on Agriculture; and Senator Thompson 575-01865-13 2013778c1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to transactions in fresh produce 3 markets; providing definitions; authorizing certain 4 owners and operators of farmers’ markets, community 5 farmers’ markets, flea markets, and other open-air 6 markets selling fresh produce to allow authorized Food 7 and Nutrition Service groups, associations, and third 8 party organizations to operate electronic benefits 9 transfer systems in such markets; providing for 10 applicability; providing an effective date. 11 12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13 14 Section 1. (1) As used in this section, the term: 15 (a) “Market” means a farmers’ market, community farmers’ 16 market, flea market, or other open-air market. 17 (b) “SNAP” means the federal Supplemental Nutrition 18 Assistance Program established under 7 U.S.C. ss. 2011 et seq. 19 (2)(a) The owner or operator of a market selling fresh 20 produce who is not an authorized SNAP retailer may allow an 21 authorized Food and Nutrition Service group or association of 22 produce sellers that is actively participating in produce sales 23 in the market, or an authorized Food and Nutrition Service 24 third-party organization, to implement and operate an electronic 25 benefits transfer system for purposes of accepting SNAP benefits 26 in the market on behalf of the produce sellers to the extent and 27 manner allowed by federal law and regulation. 28 (b) The authorized Food and Nutrition Service group, 29 association, or third-party organization responsible for 30 implementation and operation of the electronic benefits transfer 31 system may not be another market that competes with the market 32 being served. 33 (c) The market owner or operator shall reasonably 34 accommodate the authorized Food and Nutrition Service group, 35 association, or third-party organization in the implementation 36 and operation of an electronic benefits transfer system for 37 purposes of accepting SNAP benefits. 38 (3) This section does not: 39 (a) Apply to a market selling fresh produce whose owner or 40 operator has an electronic benefits transfer system for 41 accepting SNAP benefits in the market. 42 (b) Prohibit an authorized Food and Nutrition Service 43 produce seller in a market selling fresh produce from operating 44 his or her own electronic benefits transfer system as part of 45 his or her customer transaction options. 46 (c) Require a market owner or operator to create, operate, 47 or maintain an electronic benefits transfer system on behalf of 48 its produce sellers. 49 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.