SB403: re-establishing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

SB 403-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

2022 SESSION

22-2962

08/05

SENATE BILL 403-FN-A

AN ACT re-establishing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

SPONSORS: Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 1; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Kahn, Dist 10; Sen. Cavanaugh, Dist 16; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Rep. Myler, Merr. 10; Rep. Wazir, Merr. 17; Rep. Luneau, Merr. 10; Rep. Deshaies, Carr. 6

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill re-establishes the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-2962

08/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT re-establishing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Amend RSA 132 by inserting after section 12-e the following new section:

132:12-f WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. There is established in the department of health and human services the New Hampshire Farmers' Market Nutrition Program for participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The program shall distribute food instruments to eligible WIC participants to redeem for locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs at authorized New Hampshire farmers’ markets in compliance with 7 C.F.R. 248 that are redeemable only at designated New Hampshire farmers’ markets. The commissioner shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A to implement this program.

2 Appropriation; WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. There is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services the sum of $300,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, which shall be nonlapsing, for the purpose of funding the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program in RSA 132:12-f. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.

LBA

22-2962

Redraft 12/22/21

SB 403-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT re-establishing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2022

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

Appropriation

$0

$300,000

$0

$0

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Potential matching federal funds

METHODOLOGY:

This bill establishes a NH farmer's market program for participants in the women, infants, and children (WIC) nutrition program. The program will supply locally grown fresh produce to WIC participants through the distribution of vouchers redeemable at designated NH farmers' markets. The bill contains a nonlapsing general fund appropriation of $300,000 for this purpose in FY23. The Department of Health and Human Services states that the program may be eligible for matching funds, but has not identified the percentage match that it expects to receive. With respect to utilization, the Department states the appropriation and possible federal match could be used to provide a $30 one-time benefit to the estimated 11,977 low-income women and children enrolled in the WIC program.

The Department anticipates needing a 0.25 full-time equivalent (FTE) Program Assistant II position (labor grade 15) in order to administer the new program. The pro-rated cost of this position, including benefits and miscellaneous expenses, is estimated at $17,000 in FY23, $17,800 in FY24, and $18,500 in FY25.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services