Pennsylvania SB 560: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, establishing the Pennsylvania Preferred® Food Bucks Program.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 552
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 560
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY KANE, KEARNEY, COLLETT, COMITTA, HAYWOOD, FONTANA,
SCHWANK, COSTA, TARTAGLIONE AND SANTARSIERO, APRIL 4, 2025
REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, APRIL 4, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance,
establishing the Pennsylvania Preferred® Food Bucks Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
read:
Section 405.1C. Pennsylvania Preferred® Food Bucks
Program.--(a) The Pennsylvania Preferred® Food Bucks Program is
established in the department and:
(1) The program shall provide benefit incentives for SNAP
recipients who redeem SNAP benefits for the targeted food items
specified under subsection (c).
(2) The department may allocate money available for the
program to a Pennsylvania nonprofit organization or entity that
meets the criteria specified under subsection (b) for the
purpose of administering the program throughout this
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Commonwealth.
(b) The department shall develop an application to receive a
grant to administer the program. To be eligible to receive a
grant to administer the program, an applicant shall submit the
application to the department and meet all of the following
criteria:
(1) The applicant shall be a Pennsylvania nonprofit
organization or entity.
(2) The applicant shall submit a plan to the department for
the preparation and development of the infrastructure necessary
to administer the program for the sale of the targeted food
items specified under subsection (c) at participating food
retailers, including farmers markets, farm stands, mobile
markets, community supported agriculture sites, corner stores,
rural grocery stores and supermarkets.
(3) The applicant shall conduct research and evaluate the
program in accordance with any requirements of the Federal or
State grants awarded for the program.
(4) The applicant shall evaluate the impact of the program
on purchases made by SNAP recipients and the benefit of the
purchases for farmers and businesses in this Commonwealth.
(5) The applicant shall commit to using no less than the
minimum percentage of money required for benefit incentives to
qualify 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.
(6) The applicant shall agree to provide a benefit incentive
of no less than forty cents (40¢) to a SNAP recipient for every
one dollar ($1) of SNAP benefits redeemed by the SNAP recipient
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for the targeted food items specified under subsection (c).
(7) The applicant shall agree to coordinate the marketing of
the program with the Pennsylvania Preferred ® Program under 3
Pa.C.S. Ch. 46 Subch. B (relating to Pennsylvania Preferred ®
Program).
(8) The applicant shall give preference to retailers and
markets who sell Pennsylvania-grown agricultural commodities or
agricultural commodities designated with the Pennsylvania
Preferred ® trademark as defined in 3 Pa.C.S. § 4602 (relating to
definitions).
(c) To be eligible for a benefit incentive under the
program, the targeted food items shall meet the criteria
specified in the definition of "food" in 7 U.S.C. § 2012(k)
(relating to definitions) and shall include fruits and
vegetables, whether fresh, canned, dried or frozen whole or cut
without added sugars, fats, oils or salt.
(d) The mechanism for delivering benefit incentives under
the program shall be determined by a grantee selected to
administer the program under subsection (b) in conjunction with
the department.
(e) The department, in conjunction with the Department of
Agriculture, may use all of the following for the administration
of the program:
(1) A Federal large-scale project grant under the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 through the Gus Schumacher
Nutrition Incentive Program.
(2) Money appropriated by the General Assembly for benefits
for the program.
(3) Any other money made available for the program.
(f) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
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shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Program" means the Pennsylvania Preferred ® Food Bucks
Program established under subsection (a).
"SNAP" means the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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