Senate File 218 - Introduced SENATE FILE 218 BY TRONE GARRIOTT A BILL FOR An Act relating to modernization of nutrition programs in the 1 state. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1659XS (3) 91 lh/ko
S.F. 218 Section 1. MODERNIZATION OF NUTRITION PROGRAMS 1 INITIATIVES REPORT. 2 1. For the purposes of this section: 3 a. Department means the department of health and human 4 services. 5 b. SNAP means the same as defined in section 239.1. 6 c. WIC means the special supplemental nutrition program 7 for women, infants, and children as provided in 42 U.S.C. 1786 8 et seq. 9 2. The department shall do all of the following to modernize 10 nutrition programs in the state: 11 a. Create an integrated eligibility determination 12 application to be used for both WIC and SNAP. 13 b. Incorporate all available federal waivers to modernize 14 WIC by building or enhancing remote service, including through 15 a waiver permitting the use of telephone and video calls, 16 rather than requiring physical presence to complete WIC 17 certification and recertification. 18 c. Implement a pilot initiative that creates opportunities 19 and modifies the departments internet site for WIC to simplify 20 the application process and WIC benefit distribution by doing 21 all of the following: 22 (1) Implement streamlined eligibility for WIC applicants 23 who demonstrate proof of enrollment in SNAP or Medicaid by 24 using state-level referrals and data and information sharing 25 and matching. 26 (2) Enable automatic online loading of benefits to WIC 27 nutrition cards. 28 (3) Offer online shopping with WIC nutrition cards. 29 (4) Explore other opportunities to improve access to WIC 30 benefits and to remove administrative burdens as allowed by 31 federal law. 32 3. The department shall request federal approval of 33 any waiver or state plan as necessary to implement the 34 modernization initiatives described in subsection 2 and shall 35 -1- LSB 1659XS (3) 91 lh/ko 1/ 3
S.F. 218 implement the initiatives upon receipt of federal approval. 1 4. Within thirty days following completion of the first six 2 months of the implementation of this section, the department 3 shall submit a report to the general assembly regarding 4 the outcomes resulting from this section, an evaluation of 5 the feasibility of expanding the modernization initiatives 6 statewide, and the projected impact of statewide expansion. 7 EXPLANATION 8 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 9 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 10 This bill directs the department of health and human 11 services (HHS) to modernize the special supplemental nutrition 12 program for women, infants, and children (WIC) and the 13 supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) in the state. 14 The bill directs HHS to create an integrated eligibility 15 determination application to be used for both WIC and SNAP. 16 HHS shall incorporate all available federal waivers to 17 modernize WIC by building or enhancing remote service. HHS 18 shall implement a pilot initiative that creates opportunities 19 and modifies HHSs internet site for WIC to simplify 20 the application process and WIC benefit distribution by 21 streamlining eligibility for WIC applicants who demonstrate 22 proof of enrollment in SNAP or Medicaid, enabling automatic 23 online loading of benefits to WIC nutrition cards, offering 24 online shopping with WIC nutrition cards, and exploring other 25 opportunities to improve access to WIC benefits and to remove 26 administrative burdens as allowed by federal law. 27 The bill requires HHS to request federal approval of any 28 waiver or state plan as necessary to implement the bill and to 29 implement the bill upon receipt of federal approval. 30 HHS shall submit a report to the general assembly within 30 31 days following the first six months of the implementation of 32 the bill that includes the outcomes resulting from the bill, 33 an evaluation of the feasibility of expanding the provisions 34 of the bill statewide, and the projected impact of statewide 35 -2- LSB 1659XS (3) 91 lh/ko 2/ 3
S.F. 218 expansion. 1 -3- LSB 1659XS (3) 91 lh/ko 3/ 3