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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a pilot program for the purchase of |
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produce at farmers markets under certain nutritional assistance |
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programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 15A to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 15A. "DOUBLE DOLLARS" PILOT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 15A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Farmers market" means a location at which a group |
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of two or more farmers who are certified under the department's |
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farmers market certification program offer produce for retail sale. |
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(2) "Food desert" means a census tract, based on the |
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most recent information published by the United States Bureau of |
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the Census, in which: |
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(A) the poverty rate is 20 percent or higher or |
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the median family income is at or below 80 percent of the area |
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median family income; and |
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(B) at least 500 people or at least 33 percent of |
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the census area's population reside more than: |
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(i) one mile from a grocery store, in the |
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case of a census tract other than a rural census tract; or |
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(ii) 10 miles from a grocery store, in the |
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case of a rural census tract. |
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(3) "Nutritional assistance program" means the |
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supplemental nutrition assistance program and the special |
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supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. |
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(4) "Pilot program" means the "Double Dollars" pilot |
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program established under this chapter. |
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(5) "Produce" means fresh fruits or vegetables. |
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Sec. 15A.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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department shall develop and implement a pilot program to create a |
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"Double Dollars" program that, to the extent allowed by federal |
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law, provides an increase in the value of nutritional assistance |
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program benefits to a recipient of the benefits who resides in an |
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area included in the pilot program. |
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(b) The pilot program must be operated in an area that is |
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located in or accessible to one or more areas designated by the |
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department as food deserts. |
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Sec. 15A.003. ADDITIONAL NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM |
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BENEFIT. The pilot program must be designed to increase the |
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allowable weekly benefit for the purchase of produce by $1 for every |
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$1 used by a nutritional assistance program recipient to purchase |
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produce at a farmers market, with a total benefit value not to |
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exceed $20 a week for each nutritional assistance program from |
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which a recipient receives benefits. |
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Sec. 15A.004. ASSISTANCE WITH DEVELOPMENT AND |
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IMPLEMENTATION. (a) In designing and implementing the pilot |
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program, the department shall: |
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(1) collaborate and coordinate with the Health and |
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Human Services Commission and the Department of State Health |
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Services as necessary to provide the program benefit described by |
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Section 15A.003; and |
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(2) study the operation and design of existing double |
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dollars programs in this state, collaborate with the persons |
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operating those programs, and use those programs as models for the |
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pilot program. |
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(b) To implement the pilot program, the department may: |
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(1) seek, accept, and spend funds received through |
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grants or donations from public or private sources; |
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(2) develop partnerships with persons, including |
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public and private entities, located in the areas served by the |
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pilot program; and |
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(3) develop partnerships with persons, including |
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public and private entities, in the state who have experience |
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operating double dollars programs for the purpose of developing |
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training and obtaining technical assistance for the pilot program. |
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Sec. 15A.005. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires September |
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1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to supplemental nutrition assistance program and special |
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supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children |
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benefits distributed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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Benefits distributed before the effective date of this Act are |
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governed by the law as it existed on the date the distribution was |
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made, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |