LRB-1279/P2
SWB:cjs
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Lessner, BB0278 - Double up food bucks pilot program
For 2023-2025 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Health and Human Services
Public assistance
Healthy eating incentives program
Subject to certain conditions, this bill requires DHS to establish and implement a statewide healthy eating incentives Double Up Food Bucks pilot program under the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, which is a federal grant program administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under the program, DHS would match amounts spent by FoodShare recipients under the program on fruits and vegetables from participating retailers. For every dollar a FoodShare recipient spends on fruits and vegetables at a participating retailer, the recipient would get an additional dollar to spend on fruits and vegetables. FoodShare, also known as the food stamp program and the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides a monetary benefit to individuals who have limited financial resources for the purpose of purchasing food products. DHS administers the FoodShare program. Under the bill, DHS must, on a schedule it determines appropriate, seek any necessary federal approval and sufficient funding, including from the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, to support the program. If the U.S. Department of Agriculture does not approve the program, or if DHS is unable to obtain sufficient funding to support the program, DHS may not implement the program.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section
1. 20.435 (4) (bu) of the statutes is created to read:
20.435 (4) (bu) Healthy eating incentives. The amounts in the schedule for the development and administration of the healthy eating incentives program under s. 49.79 (7m) and to provide electronic benefit transfer and credit and debit card processing equipment and services to farmers' markets and farmers who sell directly to consumers under s. 49.79 (7s).
****Note: This Section
involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
****Note: Per the instructions for BB0444 (LRB 23-1657), I have included in this draft language to accommodate the purpose created by LRB 23-1657. If that draft has changes or is eliminated, those changes will need to be reflected in this draft.
Section
2. 49.79 (7m) of the statutes is created to read:
49.79 (7m) Healthy eating incentives. (a) In this subsection, “fruit and vegetables” means “any variety of fresh, canned, dried, or frozen whole or cut fruits or vegetables without added sugars, fats, oils, or salt.
(b) Subject to pars. (c) and (d), from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (4) (bu), the department shall establish and implement a statewide healthy eating incentives Double Up Food Bucks pilot program under the federal Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to match benefit amounts spent by recipients under the food stamp program on fruits and vegetables from participating retailers with additional benefit amounts to be used for the purchase of fruits and vegetables.
(c) The department shall do all of the following, on a schedule determined by the department:
1. Submit to the U.S. department of agriculture a request for a waiver or any other federal approval necessary to allow the department to implement the program under this subsection.
2. Seek any available moneys, including federal moneys under the federal Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, to fund implementation of the program under this subsection.
(d) If the U.S. department of agriculture disapproves the request under par. (c) 1. or if the department is unable to obtain sufficient funding for the program, the department may not implement the program under this subsection.
(End)
