Senate Bill 2926

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO INSTALL EQUIPMENT TO FACILITATE THE UTILIZATION OF ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER (EBT) CARDS AT FARMERS' MARKETS IN SIX COUNTIES SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN ORDER TO ENABLE PEOPLE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THOSE COUNTIES TO REGULARLY OBTAIN FRESH PRODUCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) In order to enable people in underserved communities to regularly obtain fresh produce, the Department of Human Services shall install equipment to facilitate the utilization of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards at farmers' markets in six (6) counties selected by the Department of Health.

(2) The Department of Health shall select six (6) counties to be included in the program described in subsection (1) of this section. The department shall select the counties based on the availability of farmers' markets in the counties and the nutritional needs of the underserved communities in the counties.

(3) As used in this section, "underserved communities" means a geographic area that has limited access to healthy food retailers and is located in a lower-income or high-poverty area, or an area that is otherwise determined to have serious healthy food access limitations.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2011.