| TO: | Honorable Richard Peña Raymond, Chair, House Committee on Human Services |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB948 by King, Susan (Relating to the operation and administration of the supplemental nutrition assistance program.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to develop and apply for a waiver to establish two pilot programs in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill would authorize HHSC to collaborate with a private or independent institution of higher education to provide required reports including updates on and a final evaluation of the pilot projects to the legislature.
The bill would require HHSC to encourage a retailer to promote the purchase of healthy foods with SNAP benefits and discourage a retailer from advertising participation in SNAP near food of minimal nutritional value.
The bill would require HHSC to submit to the legislature on December 1 of each even-numbered year a report on its efforts to encourage the purchase of healthy foods and discourage the purchase of minimally nutritious foods in SNAP.
The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house. If not, the bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
Based on the analysis of HHSC, implementing the provisions of the bill, including applying for federal approval, adopting rules, training staff, and conducting client and retailer outreach, could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources. HHSC estimates there could be a minimal cost for contracting with an institution of higher education to conduct the evaluation of the SNAP pilot programs.
| Source Agencies: | 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
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| LBB Staff: | UP, ES, CL, VJC
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