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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 63 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 85
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Anne M. Gobi
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to an agricultural healthy incentives program.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Anne M. GobiWorcester and HampshireJoanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/23/2023Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester1/23/2023Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/30/2023Sean Garballey23rd Middlesex1/30/2023Susan Williams Gifford2nd Plymouth1/30/2023Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex1/30/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/30/2023Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
Hampshire
1/30/2023Brian M. Ashe2nd Hampden2/1/2023Mark C. MontignySecond Bristol and Plymouth2/1/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/2/2023Michael J. Soter8th Worcester2/2/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/7/2023John C. VelisHampden and Hampshire2/7/2023Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol2/7/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/7/2023 2 of 2
Julian CyrCape and Islands2/14/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/14/2023Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk2/14/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/23/2023Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/23/2023Walter F. TimiltyNorfolk, Plymouth and Bristol2/23/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex2/23/2023Ryan C. FattmanWorcester and Hampden2/27/2023Carlos González10th Hampden3/1/2023Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex3/2/2023Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk3/6/2023Adam GomezHampden3/6/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 63 FILED ON: 1/10/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 85
By Ms. Gobi, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 85) of Anne M. Gobi, Joanne M.
Comerford, Jacob R. Oliveira, Hannah Kane and other members of the General Court for
legislation relative to an agricultural healthy incentives program. Children, Families and Persons
with Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 108 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to an agricultural healthy incentives program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 128 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2section 2E the following section:-
3 Section 2F. (a) The department of transitional assistance, in partnership with the
4department of agricultural resources and the department of public health, shall operate a healthy
5incentives program. The program shall provide that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
6benefits, established pursuant to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. section 2011
7hereinafter referred to as SNAP, redeemed for fruit and vegetable purchases, either fresh,
8canned, dried or frozen, by a SNAP recipient at a participating vendor, shall entitle the recipient 2 of 2
9to receive a matching benefit reimbursed on the recipient’s EBT card, within limits to be
10established by the department.
11 (b) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate
12fund, to be administered by the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance, which
13shall be known as the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Fund. The Fund shall consist of all
14revenues from public and private sources as appropriations, gifts, grants, donations,
15reimbursements from the federal government and grants-in-aid or other receipts to further the
16purposes of the Fund in accordance with this section.
17 (c) The Department of Transitional Assistance and its partners may apply for any
18available federal programs such as Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program administered
19by the United States Department of Agriculture to provide matching benefits to be deposited in
20the Fund.
21 SECTION 2. The Department of Transitional Assistance shall promulgate rules and
22regulations to implement the program set forth in section 1.