ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

HB 2142: produce incentive program; annual appropriation

S/E: appropriation; produce incentive program

Sponsor: Representative Dunn, LD 25

Committee on Appropriations

Summary of the Strike-Everything Amendment to HB 2142

Overview

Appropriates $5,000,000 from the state General Fund (GF) to the Arizona Department of Economic Security to implement the Produce Incentive Program in FY 2024 and exempts this appropriation from lapsing.

History

The U.S. Food and Nutrition Service's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides financial assistance to eligible low-income households to purchase nutritionally adequate, low-cost foods. This assistance is available to households that meet financial eligibility tests for monthly income, fulfill work-related requirements and satisfy citizenship and legal permanent residence tests (7 U.S.C. § 2012 et seq.).

In 2018, the Legislature appropriated $400,000 from the state General Fund to the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) to develop and implement a Produce Incentive Program (called "Double Up Food Bucks") for SNAP enrollees to purchase eligible Arizona-grown fruits and vegetables. These goods could only be purchased at SNAP-authorized farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets, community supported agriculture sites and grocery stores. This program provided matching monies up to $20 per site per day for a SNAP enrollee. DES could also use this appropriation to research and evaluate the program's impact for SNAP enrollees and Arizona agricultural producers. No program monies could be spent without matching contributions from federal, local or private sources. The appropriated funds could be spent through the end of FY 2020 (Laws 2018, Chapter 334).

In addition to this one-time appropriation of state General Fund monies, this program has received additional funding from several other sources:

1) In FYs 2020 and 2021, it annually received $500,000 from the Arizona Crisis Contingency and Safety Net Fund;

2) In FY 2022, it received $500,000 from a Social Services Block Grant; and

3) In FY 2023, it was allocated $2,000,000 of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act.

The Produce Incentive Program was formally created in statute in 2021 (Laws 2021, Chapter 396).

Provisions

1. Appropriates $5,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2024 to the Department of Economic Security to implement the Produce Incentive Program. (Sec. 1)

2. Exempts this appropriation from lapsing. (Sec. 1)

3. States that the Legislature intends for this appropriation to be considered ongoing funding in future years. (Sec. 1)

6. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

7. HB 2142

8. Initials PAB Page 0 Appropriations

10. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------