House File 288 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 288 BY HEATON and GRASSLEY A BILL FOR An Act requiring the department of human services to request 1 authorization from the United States department of 2 agriculture to allow the state to restrict the use of food 3 assistance benefits for food items with a low nutritional 4 value and including effective date provisions. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 1939YH (3) 84 jp/nh
H.F. 288 Section 1. FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM —— AUTHORITY TO RESTRICT 1 USE OF BENEFITS. The department of human services shall submit 2 a request to the United States department of agriculture for 3 authorization for a waiver, pilot project, or other approach 4 for restricting the use of food assistance benefits, as 5 administered by the state under the federal supplemental 6 nutrition assistance program, for food items with a low 7 nutritional value. The request shall be submitted within 60 8 days of the effective date of this Act. The department shall 9 regularly report on the status of the request to the members 10 of the joint appropriations subcommittee on health and human 11 services and the legislative services agency. 12 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT. This Act, being deemed of 13 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 14 EXPLANATION 15 This bill requires the department of human services to 16 request authorization from the United States department of 17 agriculture to allow the state to restrict the use of food 18 assistance benefits for food items with a low nutritional 19 value. The state administers the food assistance benefits, 20 formerly known as food stamps, under the federal supplemental 21 nutritional assistance program or SNAP. 22 The department is directed to submit the request within 23 60 days of the bill’s effective date and to report regularly 24 on the status of the request to the members of the joint 25 appropriations subcommittee on health and human services and 26 the legislative services agency. 27 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 28 -1- LSB 1939YH (3) 84 jp/nh 1/ 1