Bill Text: HI SB2466 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-03-12 - (H) The committee(s) recommends that the measure be deferred. [SB2466 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-SB2466-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2466 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE WOMEN AND INFANT CHILDREN FARMERs' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. A wealth of research has been conducted establishing a link between poverty, obesity, and poor nutrition. Among the low-income population, allocating meager funds often represents a choice between equally necessary expenses, and while a healthy diet is a noble goal, choosing healthful food can be a costly course of action. This issue becomes especially salient when it comes to the specific nutritional needs of low-income pregnant women and young children, and it falls upon the social safety net provided by the State to help address this pressing need.
Intimately connected to the social safety net is the health of the state economy. The legislature finds that diversification of the state economy is key to building a stable commercial base. By varying industry, Hawaii can best draw upon its diverse occupational talent pool, create career paths and products that capitalize on Hawaii's unique location and needs, and shape a profile able to withstand economic fluctuation in both national and international economies. Given the state's location and heritage, nowhere is this opportunity more present than in diversified agriculture.
The United States Department of Agriculture's Women and Infant Children Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (Program) is an ideal way to address each issue in a cost-effective, efficient manner, at minimal cost to the State. The Program awarded $19,300,000 nationwide in 2009, to provide recipients of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children the opportunity to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at local registered farmer's markets. The current structure of this grant program requires that State agencies operating the Program must match the federal administrative funds allocated to them by contributing at least thirty per cent of the administrative cost of the program, which typically amounts to between six and ten per cent of the total award.
The economic effect of implementing this federal partnership program would be two-fold. First, it would supplement the social safety net by drawing down federal funds to assure low-income pregnant women and children greater variety and nutritive value in their food, and second, it would support the agricultural sector of Hawaii's economy since all funds awarded through the Program go straight to local farmers.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds as a State match for the establishment and administration of the Program.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $10,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 for the department of health to develop and administer the Women and Infant Children Farmers' Market Nutrition Program; provided that the department of health shall develop and submit to the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture a state plan describing the manner in which it intends to implement, operate, and administer all aspects of the Women and Infant Children Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds as a state match toward the development and administration of the Women and Infant Children Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
