House Bill 793

AN ACT TO CREATE A HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD INCENTIVE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING THE PURCHASING POWER OF MISSISSIPPI RESIDENTS WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES; TO CREATE THE "HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD INCENTIVES FUND," AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPLEMENTING THE HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD INCENTIVES PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE AN ANNUAL GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000.00 FROM THE FUND TO A QUALIFIED MISSISSIPPI NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OR AGENCY DESIGNATED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE SUBJECT TO LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH GRANT FUNDS SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED TO PARTICIPATING MISSISSIPPI FARMERS MARKETS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING MATCHING DOLLAR INCENTIVES FOR THE DOLLAR VALUE OF SNAP BENEFITS SPENT ON FINI ELIGIBLE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT PARTICIPATING MISSISSIPPI FARMERS MARKETS AND DIRECT PRODUCER-TO-CONSUMER VENUES; TO SPECIFY CRITERIA FOR POTENTIAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR AGENCIES SELECTED AS RECIPIENT OF GRANT FUNDS; TO REQUIRE 100% OF THE MONEYS DEPOSITED INTO THE FUND TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO PARTICIPATING MISSISSIPPI FARMERS MARKETS FOR HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD INCENTIVES; TO REQUIRE THE DESIGNATED QUALIFIED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OR AGENCY SHALL SUBMIT A PROGRESS REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER THE END OF A GRANT CYCLE; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO ADOPT RULES TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 31, 2021; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Legislative findings. Diet and other lifestyle choices contribute to more than half of all deaths in Mississippi. Health risk factors include smoking, obesity, stress, nutrition, high blood pressure and alcohol and drug use. Mississippi residents should be encouraged to adopt diets and lifestyles that lead to wellness. The state can help provide encouragement by funding wellness programs that enhance the health of Mississippi residents. Healthy local food incentives encourage wellness among some of the most vulnerable residents of Mississippi, particularly those whose incomes are below the poverty line and who often have limited access to fresh, healthy and affordable foods, by doubling the purchasing power of EBT cardholders at farmers markets across the state. The benefits of such a program include:

(a) An increase in population health;

(b) Medicaid health care cost savings;

(d) Increased revenue for Mississippi's small farmers; and

(e) Economic stimulus for the region.

SECTION 2. As used in this act, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this section, unless context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

(b) "EBT card" means an electronic benefits transfer card issued by the Mississippi Department of Human Services for the purpose of enabling a user of the card to obtain SNAP benefits or cash.

vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils and salt, as defined by the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture.

(d) "Fund" means the "Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund."

(e) "SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which enables low-income families the ability to purchase nutritious food by providing monthly food assistance benefits.

SECTION 3. (1) The Mississippi Department of Human Services shall establish a Healthy Local Food Incentives Program to double the purchasing power of Mississippi residents with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

(2) There is created as a special fund in the State Treasury, to be known as the "Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund," for the purpose of implementing the Healthy Local Food Incentives Program, and from which grants authorized by this act shall be disbursed by the department. All monies received under the authority of this section shall be deposited into the "Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund."

(3) Subject to legislative appropriation, the department shall make an annual grant of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) from the fund to a qualified Mississippi nonprofit organization or agency designated by the department and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, which shall be distributed to participating Mississippi farmers markets for the purpose of providing matching dollar incentives, up to an amount specified by both departments for the dollar value of SNAP benefits spent on FINI eligible fruits and vegetables at participating Mississippi farmers markets and direct producer-to-consumer venues.

(4) The designated qualified nonprofit organization or

agency shall have a demonstrated record of:

(a) Designing and implementing successful healthy food

incentive programs that connect SNAP recipients with local

producers;

(b) Implementing funds distribution and reporting

processes;

farmers markets;

(d) Conducting community outreach and data collection;

and

(e) Providing full accounting and administration of funds distributed to farmers markets.

(5) (a) One hundred percent (100%) of the monies deposited into the fund shall be distributed to participating Mississippi farmers markets for healthy local food incentives.

(b) Within ninety (90) days after the end of a grant cycle, the designated qualified nonprofit organization or agency shall submit a progress report to the Department of Human Services. The progress report shall include the following information:

(i) The names and locations of Mississippi farmers markets and direct producer-to-consumer venues that received funds distributed under the program;

(ii) The dollar amount of funds awarded to each

participating Mississippi farmers market and direct producer-to-consumer venue;

(iii) The dollar amount of SNAP benefits, and funds provided under the program, that were spent at Mississippi

farmers markets participating in the program, as well as the dollar amount of any unspent funds available under the program;

(iv) The number of SNAP transactions carried out

annually at participating Mississippi farmers markets;

(v) The impact of the program on increasing the quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by SNAP families, as determined by customer surveys.

(6) No later than December 31, 2021, the Department of

Human Services shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of

this section.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.