Pennsylvania HB 1096: 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 providing for research on Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1191
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1096
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY PASHINSKI, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, KHAN, SANCHEZ,
HADDOCK, SCHLOSSBERG, HOHENSTEIN, HARKINS, FREEMAN, FLEMING,
DEASY, KENYATTA, KINKEAD, PROBST, HOWARD, BURGOS, RABB,
MAYES, SHUSTERMAN, FIEDLER, GUENST, STEELE AND CEPEDA-
FREYTIZ, MARCH 31, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
MARCH 31, 2025
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
providing for research on Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program.
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 as follows:
(1) The purpose of this chapter is to establish the
Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program as a nutrition incentive
program for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
recipients to purchase eligible fruits and vegetables at
eligible food retailers.
(2) Benefit incentive programs similar to the
Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program have successfully increased
the purchase of fruits and vegetables, increasing nutritious
eating and supporting fruit and vegetable farmers.
(3) Enacting this chapter will provide the Commonwealth
with specific research into best practices to maximize the
effectiveness of nutrition incentive programs and measure
their impact on Pennsylvania farmers and 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.
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"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
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
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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:
(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 r