Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources To Develop a Plan To Facilitate the Procurement of Local Produce by Food Stamp Recipients

Sec. 1. Plan for purchase of healthy food locally. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall work together to develop a plan that will encourage food stamp recipients to purchase fresh produce from local farmers and that will facilitate food stamp recipients' access to local farm products. The departments shall consult with local farmers and advocates for low-income people in developing this plan. The departments shall consider the farmers’ market projects in Lewiston and other states that allow farmers to receive electronic benefit transfers or other methods of payment under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The departments shall explore options for grants, pilot projects and waivers that may be available under the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 in the course of developing the plan; and be it further

Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall present a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services with findings and recommendations, including any necessary legislation, for the plan described in section 1 no later than January 15, 2010. The Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services is authorized to submit a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.

SUMMARY

This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to develop a plan that will encourage food stamp recipients to purchase fresh produce from local farmers and that will facilitate food stamp recipients' access to local farm products. It requires the departments to consult with local farmers and advocates for low-income people in developing this plan. It requires the departments to consider the farmers’ market projects in Lewiston and other states that allow farmers to receive electronic benefit transfers or other methods of payment under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It requires the departments to explore options for grants, pilot projects and waivers that may be available under the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 in the course of developing the plan. It requires the departments to present a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services with findings and recommendations, including any necessary legislation, for the plan no later than January 15, 2010. It authorizes the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services to submit a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.