Assigned to HHS & APPROP                                                                                                FOR COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1245

appropriation; SNAP; benefit match; produce

Purpose

Appropriates $400,000 from the state General Fund (GF) to the Department of Economic Security (DES) in FY 2019.

Background

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federally funded program run by DES that assists in the prevention of under-nutrition for low-income parents and their children by providing benefits for the purchase of food. In 2016, there were 980,536 SNAP enrollees in Arizona.

            The United States Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) determines various food items that SNAP enrollees can purchase, including: 1) breads and cereals; 2) fruits and vegetables; 3) meats, fish and poultry; and 4) dairy products (FNS).

            S.B. 1245 appropriates $400,000 to DES from the state GF in FY 2019.

Provisions

1. Appropriates $400,000 from the state GF in FY 2019 to DES to:

a) plan, prepare and develop the infrastructure necessary to implement a produce incentive program for SNAP enrollees to purchase eligible Arizona-grown fruits and vegetables from SNAP-authorized sites;

b) provide matching monies of up to $20 per participating SNAP-authorized site per day for a SNAP enrollee to purchase eligible Arizona-grown fruits and vegetables; and

c) conduct research and evaluate the produce incentive program and the impact of the program on purchases made by SNAP enrollees and the producers of eligible Arizona-grown fruits and vegetables.

2. Defines eligible Arizona-grown fruits and vegetables as any Arizona-grown variety of fresh, canned, dried or frozen whole or cut fruits and vegetables that do not contain added sugars, fats, oils or salt.

3. Allows the appropriated monies to be spent in FY 2019 and FY 2020.

4. Stipulates that any monies remaining unexpended and unencumbered on June 30, 2020, revert to the state GF.

5. Defines relevant term.

6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

February 9, 2018

CRS/JN/lat