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.
Spectrum: 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 |
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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. |