Senate File 76 - Introduced SENATE FILE 76 BY SINCLAIR A BILL FOR An Act requiring the department of human services to request 1 permission from the United States department of agriculture 2 to restrict the use of food assistance benefits for certain 3 items. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 1399XS (2) 87 hb/nh/rh
S.F. 76 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 that are beverages 7 requiring payment of a refund value or deposit. The request 8 shall be submitted within sixty days of the effective date of 9 this Act. The department shall regularly report on the status 10 of the request to the members of the joint appropriations 11 subcommittee on health and human services and the legislative 12 services agency. 13 EXPLANATION 14 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 15 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 16 This bill requires the department of human services to 17 submit a request to the federal government for permission to 18 stray from the federal guidelines so as to restrict the use of 19 food assistance benefits, previously known as food stamps, for 20 food items that are beverages requiring payment of a refund 21 value or deposit. The department is to submit the request 22 within 60 days of the effective date of the bill. The bill 23 directs the department to submit regular reports on the status 24 of the request. 25 -1- LSB 1399XS (2) 87 hb/nh/rh 1/ 1