84R7022 KKR-F
By: Rodriguez of Travis H.B. No. 1616
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a pilot program for the purchase of
produce at farmers markets under certain nutritional assistance
programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
Chapter 15A to read as follows:
CHAPTER 15A. "DOUBLE DOLLARS" PILOT PROGRAM
Sec. 15A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Farmers market" means a location at which a group
of two or more farmers who are certified under the department's
farmers market certification program offer produce for retail sale.
(2) "Food desert" means a census tract, based on the
most recent information published by the United States Bureau of
the Census, in which:
(A) the poverty rate is 20 percent or higher or
the median family income is at or below 80 percent of the area
median family income; and
(B) at least 500 people or at least 33 percent of
the census area's population reside more than:
(i) one mile from a grocery store, in the
case of a census tract other than a rural census tract; or
(ii) 10 miles from a grocery store, in the
case of a rural census tract.
(3) "Nutritional assistance program" means the
supplemental nutrition assistance program and the special
supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children.
(4) "Pilot program" means the "Double Dollars" pilot
program established under this chapter.
(5) "Produce" means fresh fruits or vegetables.
Sec. 15A.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The
department shall develop and implement a pilot program to create a
"Double Dollars" program that, to the extent allowed by federal
law, provides an increase in the value of nutritional assistance
program benefits to a recipient of the benefits who resides in an
area included in the pilot program.
(b) The pilot program must be operated in an area that is
located in or accessible to one or more areas designated by the
department as food deserts.
Sec. 15A.003. ADDITIONAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
BENEFIT. The pilot program must be designed to increase the
allowable weekly benefit for the purchase of produce by $1 for every
$1 used by a nutritional assistance program recipient to purchase
produce at a farmers market, with a total benefit value not to
exceed $20 a week for each nutritional assistance program from
which a recipient receives benefits.
Sec. 15A.004. ASSISTANCE WITH DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION. (a) In designing and implementing the pilot
program, the department shall:
(1) collaborate and coordinate with the Health and
Human Services Commission and the Department of State Health
Services as necessary to provide the program benefit described by
Section 15A.003; and
(2) study the operation and design of existing double
dollars programs in this state, collaborate with the persons
operating those programs, and use those programs as models for the
pilot program.
(b) To implement the pilot program, the department may:
(1) seek, accept, and spend funds received through
grants or donations from public or private sources;
(2) develop partnerships with persons, including
public and private entities, located in the areas served by the
pilot program; and
(3) develop partnerships with persons, including
public and private entities, in the state who have experience
operating double dollars programs for the purpose of developing
training and obtaining technical assistance for the pilot program.
Sec. 15A.005. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires September
1, 2017.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to supplemental nutrition assistance program and special
supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children
benefits distributed on or after the effective date of this Act.
Benefits distributed before the effective date of this Act are
governed by the law as it existed on the date the distribution was
made, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.