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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to incentives for using supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program benefits to purchase nutritious foods. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 33.0252 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.0252. PILOT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY FOOD |
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CHOICES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Nutritious food" means a healthy food item |
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approved by the department for the purposes of the pilot program. |
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(2) "Retailer" means a business approved for |
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participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. |
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(b) The department shall establish a pilot program under |
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which: |
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(1) a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance |
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program benefits receives additional benefits at the point of sale |
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toward future purchases if the recipient purchases a nutritious |
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food; and |
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(2) a retailer is authorized to promote to a recipient |
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of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits that the |
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recipient may receive additional benefits as a result of nutritious |
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food purchases under the pilot program. |
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(c) The executive commissioner may adopt rules as necessary |
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to implement the pilot program. Rules adopted under this section |
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must include a list of nutritious foods approved for purposes of the |
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pilot program. |
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(d) Not later than September 1 of each year, the department |
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shall submit a report to the legislature regarding the pilot |
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program. The report must include an analysis of whether the |
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additional benefits provided under the program have resulted in |
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increased use of supplemental nutrition assistance program |
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benefits on nutritious food purchases. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as possible after the effective date of |
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this Act, the Health and Human Services Commission shall apply for |
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and actively pursue from the United States Department of |
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Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service or other appropriate federal |
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agency any waiver or other authorization necessary to implement |
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this Act. The commission may delay implementing this Act until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |