Bill Text: TX HB3434 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to incentives for using supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to purchase nutritious foods.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-07 - Left pending in committee [HB3434 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB3434-Engrossed.html
| 83R11975 ADM-F | ||
| By: Raymond, et al. | H.B. No. 3434 | |
|
|
||
|
|
||
| relating to incentives for using supplemental nutrition assistance | ||
| program benefits to purchase nutritious foods. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, | ||
| is amended by adding Section 33.0252 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 33.0252. PILOT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY FOOD | ||
| CHOICES. (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "Nutritious food" means a healthy food item | ||
| approved by the department for the purposes of the pilot program. | ||
| (2) "Retailer" means a business approved for | ||
| participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. | ||
| (b) The department shall establish a pilot program under | ||
| which: | ||
| (1) a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance | ||
| program benefits receives additional benefits at the point of sale | ||
| toward future purchases if the recipient purchases a nutritious | ||
| food; and | ||
| (2) a retailer is authorized to promote to a recipient | ||
| of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits that the | ||
| recipient may receive additional benefits as a result of nutritious | ||
| food purchases under the pilot program. | ||
| (c) The executive commissioner may adopt rules as necessary | ||
| to implement the pilot program. Rules adopted under this section | ||
| must include a list of nutritious foods approved for purposes of the | ||
| pilot program. | ||
| (d) Not later than September 1 of each year, the department | ||
| shall submit a report to the legislature regarding the pilot | ||
| program. The report must include an analysis of whether the | ||
| additional benefits provided under the program have resulted in | ||
| increased use of supplemental nutrition assistance program | ||
| benefits on nutritious food purchases. | ||
| (e) This section expires September 1, 2018. | ||
| SECTION 2. As soon as possible after the effective date of | ||
| this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall apply for | ||
| and actively pursue from the United States Department of | ||
| Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service or other appropriate federal | ||
| agency any waiver or other authorization necessary to implement | ||
| this Act. The commission may delay implementing this Act until the | ||
| waiver or authorization is granted. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. | ||
