SWB:jld
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
September 20, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives Rohrkaste, Jarchow,
Zimmerman, Stafsholt, Tranel, Petryk, Horlacher, Quinn, Thiesfeldt,
Tittl, Goyke, Berceau, Genrich and Kolste, cosponsored by Senators
Harsdorf, L. Taylor, Darling, Olsen, Tiffany, Johnson, Petrowski, Cowles,
Wirch and Vukmir. Referred to Committee on Public Benefit Reform.
AB501,1,3 1An Act to create 20.435 (4) (bt) and 49.79 (6m) of the statutes; relating to:
2FoodShare healthy eating incentive pilot program and making an
3appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Department of Health Services to establish and
implement a pilot program to provide discounts to certain households that are
eligible for FoodShare benefits with discounts on fresh produce and other healthy
foods. FoodShare, also known as the food stamp program and the federal
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides benefits to eligible
low-income households for the purchase of food. FoodShare is administered by DHS.
The federal government pays the benefits for FoodShare while the state and federal
government share equally the cost of administration.
Under the bill, DHS must seek proposals from entities to administer the
healthy eating incentive pilot program through DHS's request-for-proposal
procedures and according to criteria developed by DHS. DHS must then choose an
applicant with which to contract and the chosen applicant must administer the
program, including managing all financial transactions between and among
participants, retailers, food manufacturers, and DHS and also establishing an
adequate network of participating retailers to effectively conduct the pilot.
In addition, under the bill, DHS is required to contract with an independent
research entity to conduct a study of the program. DHS must identify a certain
number of participants in the program to provide food purchase, nutritional, and

health data to the research entity. The research entity must then analyze the efficacy
of the pilot program in affecting food purchases and the health of participating
families.
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:
AB501,1 1Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
2the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table PDF
AB501,2 3Section 2. 20.435 (4) (bt) of the statutes is created to read:
AB501,2,74 20.435 (4) (bt) Healthy eating incentive pilot program. Biennially, the amounts
5in the schedule to contract with an entity to administer the healthy eating incentive
6program under s. 49.79 (6m). No moneys may be expended under this paragraph
7after June 30, 2019, except for moneys encumbered on or before that date.
AB501,3 8Section 3. 49.79 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB501,2,139 49.79 (6m) Healthy eating incentive pilot program. (a) The department shall
10establish and implement a 10-month pilot program to provide 2,000 households that
11are eligible for food stamp program benefits in both urban and rural areas with
12discounts on fresh produce and other healthy foods at the point-of-sale at
13participating retailers.
AB501,3,7
1(b) The department shall obtain and review proposals to administer the
2program under par. (a) in accordance with the department's request-for-proposal
3procedures and according to criteria developed by the department. After reviewing
4the applications submitted, the department shall select an applicant and enter into
5a contract with that applicant to administer the program under this subsection. In
6administering the program, the selected applicant shall do at least all of the
7following:
AB501,3,98 1. Manage all financial transactions between and among participants,
9retailers, food manufacturers, and the department.
AB501,3,1110 2. Establish an adequate network of participating retailers to effectively
11conduct the pilot.
AB501,3,1712 (c) The department shall contract with an independent research entity to
13conduct a study of the program established under this subsection. The department
14shall identify a statistically significant number of participants in the pilot program
15to provide food purchase, nutritional, and health data to the independent research
16entity. The research entity shall analyze the efficacy of the pilot program in affecting
17food purchases and the health of participating families.
AB501,4 18Section 4. Effective date.
AB501,3,2019 (1) This act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after
20publication of the 2017 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
AB501,3,2121 (End)
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