Honorable Tracy O. King, Chair, House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1616 by Rodriguez, Eddie (Relating to the establishment of a pilot program for the purchase of produce at farmers markets under certain nutritional assistance programs.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Agriculture Code regarding the "Double Dollars" Pilot Program. The bill would require the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to develop and implement a pilot program to provide an increase in the value of nutritional assistance program benefits to recipients of benefits who live in an area located in or accessible to an area designated as a food desert. TDA would collaborate and coordinate with the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to provide program benefits and study the operation and design of existing double dollars programs in Texas to use them as models for the pilot program.
The bill would require the pilot program to increase the allowable weekly benefit for nutritional assistance program recipients by the amount spent on produce purchased at a farmer's market, not to exceed $20 per week from each nutritional assistance program from which they receive benefits.
Both HHSC and DSHS indicate that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within each agency's existing resources. TDA estimates there would be a minimal cost associated with implementing the provisions of the bill.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 551 Department of Agriculture