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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibiting the purchase of certain food items under |
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the supplemental nutritional assistance program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 33.030 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.030. PURCHASE OF CERTAIN FOOD ITEMS PROHIBITED |
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UNDER SNAP. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Milk product" means a natural milk product |
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regardless of animal source or butterfat content and regardless of |
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whether reconstituted, including milk in liquid form, milk |
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concentrate, and dehydrated milk. |
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(2) "Sugary food item" means a food item to which a |
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natural or artificial sweetener is added that contains more than 10 |
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calories per 8 ounces of the item. |
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(3) "Sweetened beverage" means a nonalcoholic |
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beverage to which a natural or artificial sweetener is added that is |
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sold for human consumption, including a soft drink, a fruit or |
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vegetable juice, and other flavored beverages. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a recipient may |
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not use supplemental nutritional assistance benefits to purchase: |
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(1) a sweetened beverage; |
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(2) another sugary food item; or |
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(3) any food item, regardless of natural or artificial |
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sweetener content, that contains more than 10 grams of fat per |
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serving, according to the manufacturer's label on the food or other |
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documentation by the manufacturer, as required by state or federal |
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law. |
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(c) The prohibition under Subsection (b) does not apply to |
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the purchase of: |
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(1) a milk product; |
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(2) a milk substitute, including soy milk, rice milk, |
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or almond milk; |
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(3) a beverage in which the only added sweetener does |
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not add calories to the beverage; |
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(4) a beverage intended by the manufacturer for |
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consumption by an infant that is commonly referred to as "infant |
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formula"; |
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(5) a beverage intended by the manufacturer for use |
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for weight reduction; or |
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(6) a fruit or vegetable juice to which no sugar has |
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been added. |
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SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that authorization from a federal agency |
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is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency |
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affected by the provision shall request the authorization and may |
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delay implementing that provision until the authorization is |
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granted. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |