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HF 352

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 02/23/2015 03:41pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - 1st Engrossment

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A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing the healthy eating, here at home
program; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 256E.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [256E.345] HEALTHY EATING, HERE AT HOME.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The healthy eating, here at home program is
established to provide incentives for low-income Minnesotans to use federal Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for healthy purchases at Minnesota-based
farmers' markets.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Healthy eating, here at home" means a program administered by the
commissioner to provide incentives for low-income Minnesotans to use SNAP benefits for
healthy purchases at Minnesota-based farmers' markets.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Healthy purchases" means SNAP-eligible foods.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Minnesota-based farmers' market" means a physical market as defined in section
28A.151, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), and also includes mobile markets.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Voucher" means a physical or electronic credit.
new text end

new text begin (f) "Eligible household" means an individual or family that is determined to be a
recipient of SNAP.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall allocate grant funds to nonprofit
organizations that work with Minnesota-based farmers' markets to provide up to $10
vouchers to SNAP participants who use electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards for
healthy purchases. Funds may also be provided for vouchers distributed through nonprofit
organizations engaged in healthy cooking and food education outreach to eligible
households for use at farmers' markets. Funds appropriated under this section may not
be used for healthy cooking classes or food education outreach. When awarding grants,
the commissioner must consider how the nonprofit organizations will achieve geographic
balance, including specific efforts to reach eligible households across the state, and the
organizations' capacity to manage the programming and outreach.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Household eligibility; participation. new text end

new text begin To be eligible for a healthy eating,
here at home voucher, an eligible household must meet the Minnesota SNAP eligibility
requirements under section 256D.051.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Permissible uses; information provided. new text end

new text begin An eligible household may use
the voucher toward healthy purchases at Minnesota-based farmers' markets. Every eligible
household that receives a voucher must be informed of the allowable uses of the voucher.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Program reporting. new text end

new text begin The nonprofit organizations that receive grant funds
must report annually to the commissioner with information regarding the operation of the
program, including the number of vouchers issued and the number of people served. To
the extent practicable, the nonprofit organizations must report on the usage of the vouchers
and evaluate the program's effectiveness.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Grocery inclusion. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must submit a waiver request to
the federal United States Department of Agriculture seeking approval for the inclusion of
Minnesota grocery stores in this program so that SNAP participants may use the vouchers
for healthy produce at grocery stores. Grocery store participation is voluntary and a
grocery store's associated administrative costs will not be reimbursed.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 are appropriated
from the general fund to the commissioner of human services for the healthy eating, here
at home program under Minnesota Statutes, section 256E.345. No more than three percent
of the appropriation may be used for the nonprofit administration of the grant program
under Minnesota Statutes, section 256E.345.
new text end