SB233: re-establishing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

SB 233-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

2023 SESSION

23-0873

08/05

SENATE BILL 233-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. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Rep. M. Pearson, Rock. 34; Rep. Myler, Merr. 9; Rep. Simpson, Rock. 33

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.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0873

08/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

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; 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 $600,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, 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 upon its passage.

LBA

23-0873

Revised 2/13/23

SB 233-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 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

Appropriation

$0

$600,000

$0

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

$0

$317,000

$317,800

$318,500

Funding Source:

[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other - Matching federal funds

METHODOLOGY:

This bill establishes a NH farmers' 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 $600,000 for this purpose during for the the biennium ending June 30, 2025. The Department of Health and Human Services states that independent of the bill, it has been awarded approval to administer a farmers' market nutrition program with federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide the federal minimum requirement of a one-time $10 benefit to 5,676 children enrolled in the WIC program. The USDA requires a 30 percent match of administrative funding from the authorized state. The Department states that the $600,000 appropriation contained in the bill could be used to meet the administrative match requirement, fund start-up administrative costs, and increase the fresh fruit and vegetable benefit to $30. The Departments states that for each year the program is in effect, an estimated 10,000 low-income households could be provided a one-time, $30 benefit during the months of June-October for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables.

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 FY24, $17,800 in FY25, and $18,500 in FY26.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services