Bill Text: CA AB537 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Farmers' markets: electronic benefit transfers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-09-29 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 435, Statutes of 2010. [AB537 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB537-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 537	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  435
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 29, 2010
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 29, 2010
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 23, 2010
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 24, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 18, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 17, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 30, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 28, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 25, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 23, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 1, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Arambula
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Caballero and Solorio)

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   An act to add Section 10072.1 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to public benefits.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 537, Arambula. Farmers' markets: electronic benefit transfers.
   Existing law, administered by the State Department of Social
Services, provides for the establishment of a statewide electronic
benefit transfer (EBT) system for the purpose of providing financial
and food assistance benefits to needy Californians.
   This bill would allow an interested collective group or
association of produce sellers that is Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) authorized and in a flea market, farmers' market, or certified
farmers' market to initiate and operate an EBT acceptance system in
the market, as specified. The bill would provide that an individual
produce seller in a market is not prohibited from operating his or
her own individual EBT acceptance activity as part of that seller's
personal business customer transaction offering.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 10072.1 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
   10072.1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that flea
markets, farmers' markets, and certified farmers' markets are
important sources of low-cost produce for Californians in need of
food assistance.
   (b) (1) An interested collective group or association of produce
sellers that is Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) authorized and
actively participating in produce sales in a market described in
subdivision (a) may initiate and operate an electronic benefit
transfer (EBT) acceptance system on behalf of its members, to the
extent and manner allowed by federal law and regulation. The market
operator shall allow and accommodate the FNS-authorized group or
association in a reasonable manner that aids in the creation,
implementation, and operation of its EBT acceptance system. The
allowance and accommodation by the market operator mandated by this
section is limited solely to the activity of the operation of the EBT
acceptance system by the group or association. No other activities
are authorized without the express permission of the market operator.

   (2) This subdivision shall not apply to a market described in
subdivision (a) that currently or subsequently operates an EBT
acceptance system.
   (c) Nothing in this section or any other provision of law shall
prohibit an individually FNS-authorized produce seller in a market
described in subdivision (a) from operating his or her own individual
EBT acceptance activity as part of that seller's personal business
customer transaction offering.
   (d) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to require a
market described in subdivision (a) to itself create, operate, or
maintain an EBT acceptance system on behalf of its produce sellers.