Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program in DHS; appropriates $3 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act increasing access to fruits and vegetables for individuals with limited incomes, supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that, in 2020, approximately 657,320 people in New Jersey, including 175,830 children, were food insecure. These figures mean that one in 14 individuals, including one in 11 children, lived in homes without consistent access to adequate food for everyone to live healthy, active lives.
b. Food insecurity contributes to poor quality diets, chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, behavioral health issues, and other negative outcomes for children and families. Further, food insecurity disproportionately affects people with low incomes and people of color.
c. Food assistance programs, such as the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.88-525 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.), are effective at significantly reducing food insecurity; however, participants report difficulty affording and accessing healthy foods. Furthermore, fruit and vegetable consumption among such food assistance program participants is far below national dietary guidelines.
d. Therefore, the Legislature intends to create a State Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program to benefit people who are food insecure, as well as the States agricultural industry and retailers.
2. As used in this act:
Approved food retailer means a farmers market or farmers market retailer, grocery store, or other fresh food retailer that has been approved to participate in SNAP.
Cash-value voucher means a form or check for a specific dollar amount that a SNAP enrollee can use to purchase fruits and vegetables approved under the program.
Department means the Department of Human Services.
Financial incentives means benefits, coupons, vouchers, or other forms that SNAP enrollees can use to lower the price of purchasing fruits and vegetables approved under the program.
Food insecure means a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.
"Medicaid" means the New Jersey Medical Assistance and Health Services Program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.).
"NJ FamilyCare" means the NJ FamilyCare Program established pursuant to sections 3 through 5 of P.L.2005, c.156 (C.30:4J-10 through C.30:4J-12).
Program means the Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program established pursuant to this act.
SNAP means the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program established pursuant to the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.).
3. a. There is established in the Department of Human Services a Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among food insecure individuals with limited incomes. In order to effectuate the goals of the program, the department shall establish, and collaborate with, an authorized network of program providers to distribute:
(1) financial incentives to eligible SNAP enrollees to purchase approved fruits and vegetables at authorized food retailers when the enrollee uses SNAP benefits at the authorized food retailer; and
(2) cash-value vouchers, via health care providers, health educators, community health workers, or other health professionals, to eligible SNAP enrollees that may be redeemed for approved fruits and vegetables at an authorized food retailer when the individual distributing the voucher determines that the enrollee is food insecure or has a qualifying health condition, as defined by the department.
b. In administering the program, the department shall:
(1) collaborate in the development and implementation of the program with other State agencies that have missions and programs that closely align with the program, including the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture;
(2) establish an authorized network of program partners, including, but not limited to, authorized food retailers, government agencies, health care systems, and nonprofit organizations. In establishing a network of program providers pursuant to this paragraph, the department may give preference to:
(a) authorized food retailers that are located in a county with a high level of food insecurity; and
(b) health care systems that: currently operate or previously operated fruit and vegetable prescription programs; routinely screen patients for food insecurity; have a high percentage of patients who are enrolled in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare; or are located in a county with a high level of food insecurity;
(3) provide resources, coordination, and technical assistance to program partners, including support in pursuing all sources of available funding to implement the program;
(4) determine the approved fruits and vegetables that may be purchased or redeemed under the program at authorized food retailers;
(5) promote the program, in collaboration with program partners and other entities involved in the administration of SNAP, to SNAP enrollees, particularly in counties with a high level of food insecurity, which promotion shall include notifying SNAP enrollees of the existence of the program, providing SNAP enrollees with assistance in locating authorized food retailers, and notifying SNAP enrollees of associated and complementary programs, including the Good Food Bucks program;
(6) apply to the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture for any waivers or appr