Bill Text: TX HB3705 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to establishing a pilot program for the purchase of produce at farmers markets under certain nutritional assistance programs.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-25 - Referred to Human Services [HB3705 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB3705-Introduced.html
| By: Rodriguez of Travis | H.B. No. 3705 | |
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| relating to establishing a pilot program for the purchase of | ||
| produce at farmers markets under certain nutritional assistance | ||
| programs. | ||
| 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 33.039 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 33.039. "DOUBLE DOLLARS" PILOT PROGRAM FOR PRODUCE | ||
| PURCHASED AT FARMERS MARKETS. (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "Farmers market" means a location at which a group | ||
| of two or more farmers that are certified under the department's | ||
| farmers market certification program offer produce for retail sale. | ||
| (2) "Nutritional assistance program" means the | ||
| supplemental nutrition assistance program and the special | ||
| supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. | ||
| (3) "Produce" means fresh fruits or vegetables. | ||
| (b) The executive commissioner by rule shall develop and the | ||
| department shall implement a pilot program to create a "Double | ||
| Dollars" program that, to the extent allowed by federal law, | ||
| provides an increase in the value of nutritional assistance program | ||
| benefits to a recipient of the benefits who resides in an area | ||
| included in the pilot program. The pilot program must be operated | ||
| in one or more areas designated by the executive commissioner as low | ||
| income areas. | ||
| (c) The pilot program increases the allowable weekly | ||
| benefit for the purchase of produce by $1 for every $1 used by a | ||
| recipient to purchase produce at a farmers market, with a total | ||
| benefit value not to exceed $20 a week for each nutritional | ||
| assistance program from which a recipient receives benefits. | ||
| (d) To implement the pilot program, the department may: | ||
| (1) seek, accept, and spend funds received through | ||
| grants or donations from public or private sources; and | ||
| (2) develop partnerships with persons or public or | ||
| private entities located in the areas served by the pilot program. | ||
| (e) This section expires September 1, 2015. | ||
| SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only | ||
| to supplemental nutrition assistance program and special | ||
| supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children | ||
| benefits distributed on or after the effective date of this Act. | ||
| Benefits distributed before the effective date of this Act are | ||
| governed by the law in effect on the date the distribution was made, | ||
| and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. | ||
| SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act | ||
| a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a | ||
| federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, | ||
| the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or | ||
| authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the | ||
| waiver or authorization is granted. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. | ||
