Bill Text: HI HB262 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Incentives.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-14 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Aquino, Nakamura excused (2). [HB262 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2019-HB262-Amended.html
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
262 |
|
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INCENTIVES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is an integral part of a healthy diet and central to the prevention of obesity and chronic disease. The legislature also finds that every community should have access to fresh and healthy dietary options, but the high cost of fresh produce often makes that difficult. This challenge is felt acutely by participants in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a low-income population that struggles to afford healthy food.
The legislature further finds that through the national Double Up Food Bucks Program, Hawaii has the opportunity to expand access to healthy foods for low-income residents who are eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Currently implemented in more than twenty states, the Double Up Food Bucks Program provides matching federal grant moneys to state programs that incentivize the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for the purchase of fresh produce. Provided by both the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grants Program, these federal matching funds increase access to healthy dietary options while also invigorating local economies and addressing food insecurity.
The purpose of this Act is to require the department of agriculture to develop and administer a local healthy food incentive program promoting the purchase of Hawaii-grown fruits and vegetables by beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
SECTION 2. Chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§141- Hawaii healthy food incentive program; rules. (a) There is established a local healthy food incentive program for beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to be developed and administered by the department of agriculture.
(b) Participants in the local healthy food incentive program who are beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program shall receive a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $20 per visit, per day, to be used exclusively for the purchase of Hawaii-grown fresh fruits and vegetables at a farmers' market, farm stand, mobile market, community-supported agriculture site, grocery store, or other direct food retailer that participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
(c) The department of agriculture may consult and
cooperate with private organizations to develop and implement rules to
administer the local healthy food incentive program.
(d) For the purposes of this section, "farmers' market" shall have the same meaning as in section 205-2(d)(15)(D)."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for administration of the local healthy food incentive program and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 31, 2150.
Report Title:
DOA; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Local Healthy Food Incentive Program; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the Department of Agriculture to create a dollar-for-dollar matching program for beneficiaries of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program who use their benefits to purchase Hawaii-grown produce. Appropriates funds. (HB262 HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
