PRINTER'S NO. 3192
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2357
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY PASHINSKI, KINSEY, HOHENSTEIN, HILL-EVANS, GIRAL,
SCHLOSSBERG, BURGOS, SANCHEZ, MERSKI, PARKER, KINKEAD, MAYES,
KENYATTA, HARKINS, GUENST, KHAN, CONKLIN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND
SHUSTERMAN, MAY 30, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
MAY 30, 2024
AN ACT
Amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, establishing the Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program
and the Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program Account; and making
an appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 110
PENNSYLVANIA FOOD BUCKS PROGRAM
Sec.
11001. Scope of chapter.
11002. Declaration of purpose.
11003. Definitions.
11004. Establishment of program.
11005. Administration of program.
11006. Establishment of account.
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11007. Use of available money for program.
11008. Regulations.
§ 11001. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to the Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program.
§ 11002. Declaration of purpose.
The General Assembly finds and declares that the purpose of
this chapter is to establish the Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program
as a benefit incentive program for Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to purchase eligible fruits
and vegetables at eligible food retailers.
§ 11003. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Account." The Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program Account
established under section 11006(a) (relating to establishment of
account).
"Benefit incentive." The financial or benefit reward for a
SNAP recipient when the SNAP recipient purchases an eligible
fruit or vegetable at an eligible food retailer as determined by
the grantee.
"Eligible food retailer." A SNAP-authorized site or food
vendor. The term may include a farmer's market, corner store,
grocery store or supermarket that redeems SNAP benefits.
"Eligible fruit or vegetable." A fruit or vegetable that
meets the criteria specified in the definition of "food" in 7
U.S.C. § 2012(k) (relating to definitions). The term may include
a fruit or vegetable whether fresh, canned, dried or frozen
whole or cut without added sugars, fats, oils or salt.
"Grantee." A Pennsylvania nonprofit organization that
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qualifies for an exemption from taxation under 26 U.S.C. §
501(c)(3) (relating to exemption from tax on corporations,
certain trusts, etc.) selected by the department to administer
the program under section 11005(b) (relating to administration
of program).
"Program." The Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program established
under section 11004 (relating to establishment of program).
"SNAP." The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
established under 7 U.S.C. Ch. 51 (relating to Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program).
§ 11004. Establishment of program.
The Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program is established within the
department.
§ 11005. Administration of program.
(a) Administration.--The grantee selected by the department
under subsection (b) shall administer the program for a period
of no less than two years.
(b) Selection of grantee.--The department shall develop
eligibility criteria and an application process to select a
grantee, who shall meet all of the following criteria:
(1) Has demonstrated success in administering healthy
food incentive programming.
(2) Is able to apply for a Federal large-scale project
grant under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public
Law 115-334, 132 Stat. 4490) through the Gus Schumacher
Nutrition Incentive Program.
(c) Program guidelines.--The grantee, in conjunction with
the department, shall develop and establish program standards
and incentive criteria for the program, including all of the
following requirements:
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(1) The mechanism for delivering benefit incentives
under the program shall be determined by the grantee in
consultation with eligible food retailers.
(2) The grantee shall provide a benefit incentive of no
less than 40¢ to a SNAP recipient for every $1 of SNAP
benefits redeemed by the SNAP recipient on eligible fruits or
vegetables at eligible food retailers.
(d) Program evaluation.--The grantee shall evaluate the
program on a biennial basis and post a report with the findings
of the evaluation on a publicly accessible Internet website and
submit the report to the department and the General Assembly.
The grantee shall include all of the following information in
the report:
(1) The amount of money used for benefit incentives.
(2) The geographic distribution and amount of money
dispersed at the county level.
(3) A list of each participating eligible food retailer.
§ 11006. Establishment of account.
(a) Establishment of account.--The Pennsylvania Food Bucks
Program Account is established as a restricted account in the
General Fund and shall be used exclusively for the program in
accordance with this chapter. Money in the account is
appropriated on a continuing basis to the department for the
purposes of this chapter.
(b) Supplements to account.--In addition to money
appropriated to the department for the program, the department
may also accept gifts, donations, legacies and other revenues,
including Federal appropriations, for deposit into the account.
§ 11007. Use of available money for program.
The grantee shall use money available for the program for the
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following purposes:
(1) Distributing money to partner organizations or
directly to SNAP recipients for purchasing eligible fruits or
vegetables at eligible food retailers.
(2) Implementing and evaluating the program. The grantee
may only use 40% of the available money for the program in a
fiscal year for the purpose specified under this paragraph.
(3) Matching contributions for additional Federal, local
or private sources, including money or in-kind contributions.
§ 11008. Regulations.
The department may promulgate regulations to implement this
chapter.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 120 days.
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