Bills · 2015-2016 Regular Session

AB 177

Died at session end Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: limiting the foods that may be purchased under FoodShare; requiring a report on the cost to implement and comply with the food limitations; requiring review, updating, and publication of the list of authorized foods; providing an exemption from rule-making procedures; and making an appropriation. (FE)

Food Food stamp plan Forestry Health services, department of — Supportive living and treatment Legislature — Finance, joint committee on Maternal and infant care

Introduced, stopped here
Passes Assembly, not reached
Passes Senate, not reached
Governor signs, not reached
Law, not reached

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the federal food stamp program, now known as the

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and called FoodShare in this

state, assists eligible low-income individuals (recipients) to purchase food. SNAP

benefits are paid entirely with federal moneys. The cost of administration is split

between the federal and state governments; the program is administered in this

state by the Department of Health Services (DHS).

Under this bill, DHS must require that not less than 67 percent of the SNAP

benefits used by a recipient in a month be used to purchase any of the following foods:

foods that are on the list of foods authorized for the federal special supplemental

nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC foods); beef; pork; chicken;

fish; fresh produce; and fresh, frozen, and canned white potatoes. In addition, DHS

must prohibit using SNAP benefits for the purchase of crab, lobster, shrimp, or any

other shellfish. To facilitate compliance with the requirements, DHS may authorize

grocers and other retailers that sell food to recipients (retailers) to swipe a recipient's

benefit card before scanning any items that the recipient is purchasing.

Under the bill, DHS is required to reimburse retailers and warehouse suppliers

in this state for their initial implementation costs associated with the new

requirements. Before implementing the new requirements, DHS must determine

what the implementation and compliance costs associated with the new

requirements will be to retailers and warehouse suppliers in this state and must

submit a report with that cost determination to the Joint Committee on Finance.

If DHS determines that a federal waiver is needed to implement the food

limitation requirements or the authorization to pre-swipe benefit cards under the

bill, it must request the waiver and may not implement the requirements or the

pre-swipe authorization unless the waiver is granted. DHS must implement the

requirements within three years after the bill is enacted or, if a waiver is necessary,

within two years after the waiver is granted.

The bill requires DHS annually to review, and to update as appropriate, its list

of WIC foods and to publish a current list of WIC foods on its Internet site. DHS also

must publish on its Internet site a list of the foods for which 67 percent of a recipient's

benefits must be used.

What it would cost

Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs

Fiscal Estimate From DHS

Votes

Suspending the rules (to take a vote immediately) needs a two-thirds majority — a higher bar than passing the bill, which needs a simple majority. That's why a suspension motion can show more Ayes than the passage vote that follows it. Glossary