Bill Text: HI SB2466 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended
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-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2466 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010 |
S.D. 2 |
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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 to establish a link between poverty, obesity, and poor nutrition. Within Hawaii's low-income population, a meager income often dictates a choice between daily expenses and food. Choosing a healthy diet 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. 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 economic base. By expanding the State's industrial base, 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 develop a local economy able to withstand fluctuations in both national and international markets. Given the State's location and heritage, nowhere is the opportunity for economic growth more prevalent than in diversified agriculture.
The legislature also finds that the United States Department of Agriculture's Women and Infant Children Farmers' Market Nutrition Program is an ideal way to address the nutritional concerns of pregnant women and young children in a cost-effective and 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 locally registered farmer's markets. The current structure of this grant program requires state agencies operating the program to match the federal grant with 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 securing federal funds to ensure low-income pregnant women and children greater variety and nutritional value in their food. Second, it would support the agricultural sector of Hawaii's economy since all funds awarded through the program go directly to local farmers.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate state matching funds for the Women and Infant Children Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the healthy Hawaii initiative 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 sum 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, 2099.
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. Effecting 7/1/2099. (SD2)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
