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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2608 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. This Act is intended to encourage proper nutrition for those who receive benefits under the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program. This Act is consistent with the Congressional Declaration of Policy under Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 United States Code, section 2011), which states:
"It is declared to be the policy of Congress, in order to promote the general welfare, to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation's population by raising levels of nutrition among low-income households. Congress finds that the limited food purchasing power of low-income households contributes to hunger and malnutrition among members of such households. Congress further finds that increased utilization of food in establishing and maintaining adequate national levels of nutrition will promote the distribution in a beneficial manner of the Nation's agricultural abundance and will strengthen the Nation's agricultural economy, as well as result in more orderly marketing and distribution of foods. To alleviate such hunger and malnutrition, a supplemental nutrition assistance program is herein authorized which will permit low-income households to obtain a more nutritious diet through normal channels of trade by increasing food purchasing power for all eligible households who apply for participation."
The legislature also finds that supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients are not allowed to use supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to purchase hot or prepared meals pursuant to title 7 Code of Federal Regulations section 274.7. The exception to this exclusion is if a state elects to operate a restaurant meals program for qualified elderly, disabled, and homeless persons. Hawaii administered such a program from 1992 to 1998, but discontinued the program due to complaints of abuse and a lack of staff to adequately monitor the program.
The purpose of this Act is to require the department of human services to report on:
(1) The prospective elderly, disabled, and homeless recipients of the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and
(2) The feasibility of re-administering and overseeing a restaurant meals program that would allow the use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to purchase hot or prepared meals at designated restaurants or facilities.
SECTION 2. The department of human services shall submit to the legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2013, a report that provides information on:
(1) The prospective elderly, disabled, and homeless recipients of the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and
(2) The feasibility of re-administering and overseeing a restaurant meals program that would allow the use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to purchase hot or prepared meals at designated restaurants or facilities.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Food Stamp; Report
Description:
Requires the department of human services to provide information on the prospective population eligible for the supplemental nutrition assistance program and the feasibility of allowing supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to be used to purchase hot or prepared meals. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.