Bill Text: HI SB1259 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 1259

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Incentives.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [SB1259 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB1259-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1259
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INCENTIVES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is an integral part of a healthy diet and central to the prevention of obesity and chronic disease. The legislature also finds that every community should have access to fresh and healthy dietary options, but the high cost of fresh produce often makes that difficult. This challenge is felt acutely by participants in the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program, a low-income population that struggles to afford healthy food.

The legislature further finds that the State faces an estimated $83,000,000 in annual costs related to food insecurity and hunger. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rising inflation, households are facing increasing food costs. Compared to the rest of the nation, households spend the highest percentage of their annual budget on food.

The legislature further finds that through the national Double Up Food Bucks Program, Hawaii has the opportunity to expand access to healthy foods for low-income residents who are eligible for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits. Currently implemented in more than twenty states, the Double Up Food Bucks Program provides matching federal grant moneys to state programs that incentivize the use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits for the purchase of fresh produce. Provided by both the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and the United States Department of Agriculture food insecurity nutrition incentive grants program, these federal matching funds increase access to healthy dietary options while also invigorating local economies and addressing food insecurity.

The enactment of Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, created the Hawaii healthy food incentive program, now commonly known as the DA BUX double up food bucks program. The DA BUX double up food bucks program began first with a pilot program in 2012 by Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services on Oahu and The Kohala Center on Hawai�i island. The program provides a dollar-for-dollar match to supplemental nutrition assistance program beneficiaries who purchase locally grown fruits, vegetables, and proteins at participating farmers' markets, grocery stores, and community-supported agriculture projects. By the end of 2021, the pilot program was available at fifty-seven food retailers across ninety-eight market sites and pick-up locations that include grocery stores, farmers markets, community supported agriculture programs, and other farm direct retailers. From 2020-2021, DA BUX supported four hundred seventy farm producers and eight distributors. Each dollar reimbursed to participating DA BUX food retailers for their issued discounts on local produce has an economic multiplier of 2.1. This means that each program dollar issued for local produce incentives contributes $2.10 to Hawaii's economy. A $3,000,000 investment by the State in this program would allow for a federal funding match that will contribute at least $12,600,000 to our local economy annually. This is a triple win for the State because it supports families, farmers, and the local economy. Additional funding will allow the statewide program coordinator, led by The Food Basket on Hawai�i island, to obtain matching federal funds to continue to support the program.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of agriculture for the continued administration of the Hawaii healthy food incentive program and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the continued administration of the Hawaii healthy food incentive program and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DOA; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to DOA for the continued administration of the Hawaii healthy food incentive program and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.