Bill Text: NH HB1638 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended

New Hampshire House Bill 1638 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relative to the administration of the SNAP incentive programs.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-01 - Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study (Vote 22-0; Consent Calendar) House Calendar 23 P. 4 [HB1638 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2020-HB1638-Amended.html

HB 1638-FN-A - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

19Feb2020... 0131h

2020 SESSION

20-2489

05/01

HOUSE BILL 1638-FN-A

AN ACT relative to the administration of the SNAP incentive programs.

SPONSORS: Rep. Martin, Hills. 23; Rep. Horn, Merr. 2; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 5; Rep. Campion, Graf. 12; Rep. Berrien, Rock. 18; Rep. Murphy, Hills. 21; Rep. Chase, Straf. 18; Rep. Walz, Merr. 23; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill requires the department of health and human services to implement SNAP health incentive programs and makes an appropriation to the department for this purpose.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19Feb2020... 0131h

20-2489

05/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

AN ACT relative to the administration of the SNAP incentive programs.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Duties of the Department of Health and Human Services; Administration of State Food Stamp Program; Reference to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Added. Amend RSA 161:2, XIII to read as follows:

XIII. Food Stamp Program. Develop and administer a food stamp program within the state, also known as SNAP, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, under the provisions of the Federal Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended, and in accordance with Federal Regulations duly promulgated by the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

XIII-a. SNAP Incentive Programs. Implement SNAP incentive programs enabling beneficiaries of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to receive a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $20 per day of fresh fruits and vegetables, with an emphasis on locally grown, at participating farmer's markets, farm stands, mobile markets, community supported agriculture sites, grocery stores, or other participating direct food retailers.

2 New Paragraph; Department of Health and Human Services; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 161:4-a by inserting after paragraph XI the following new paragraph:

XI-a. The implementation of SNAP incentive programs under RSA 161:2, XIII-a.

3 Department of Health and Human Services; Appropriation. The sum of $150,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2021 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the SNAP incentive programs under RSA 161:2, XIII-a. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.

LBAO

20-2489

12/11/19

HB 1638-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the administration of the SNAP incentive programs.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None


	Estimated Increase / (Decrease)
STATE:	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
Appropriation	$0	$150,000	$0	$0
Revenue	$0	$0	$0	$0
Expenditures	$0	$150,000-$300,000	$0	$0
Funding Source:	[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Federal matching funds

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to implement and administer incentive programs through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). The incentive programs would allow SNAP beneficiaries to receive a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $20 per day for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables. The bill provides a $150,000 general fund appropriation for the purposes of the program in the FY20/21 biennium, which would be available in FY21 as the bill has an effective date of July 1, 2020.

The Department states that as of November 2019, three SNAP incentive programs operate within NH by raising private funds, which are then matched by the federal government through the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). The Department states the bill could be interpreted in multiple ways, one of which would require it to oversee the existing programs. Alternatively, the bill could be interpreted to allow the Department to apply for a GusNIP grant and operate a SNAP incentive program directly, generating matching federal funds. Regardless of the interpretation, the Department assumes it will be constrained by the $150,000 appropriation contained in the bill, limiting general fund expenditures to that amount.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services