| TO: | Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1088 by Shapleigh (Relating to the use of food stamp benefits at farmers markets.), As Introduced |
If enacted, the bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), in cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), to take all actions necessary to ensure that food stamp recipients are able to access their benefits at farmers markets. Required actions would include ensuring the availability of Lone Star Card terminals at each farmers market, providing training and technical assistance to managers and vendors at farmers markets, and outreaching food stamp recipients regarding the ability to use Lone Star Cards at farmers markets. The effective date of the bill is September 1, 2009.
HHSC indicates the minimal costs associated with ensuring the availability of Lone Star Card terminals at farmers markets, providing training and technical assistance to managers and vendors at farmers markets, and outreaching food stamp recipients can be absorbed within existing resources. TDA indicates the bill would have no fiscal impact on them.
| Source Agencies: | 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 551 Department of Agriculture
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, SD, MH, LI
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