Section 208.018

Title XII PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

Chapter 208

Effective - 28 Aug 2021, 2 histories   

  208.018.  Farmers' markets, SNAP participants, pilot program to purchase fresh food — requirements — sunset provision. — 1.  Subject to federal approval, the department of social services shall establish a pilot program for the purpose of providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants with access and the ability to afford fresh food when purchasing fresh food at farmers' markets.  The pilot program shall be established in at least one rural area and one urban area.  Under the pilot program, such participants shall be able to:

  (1)  Purchase fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and honey with SNAP benefits with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card; and

  (2)  Receive a dollar-for-dollar match for every SNAP dollar spent at a participating farmers' market or vending urban agricultural zone as defined in section 262.900 in an amount up to ten dollars per week whenever the participant purchases fresh food with an EBT card.

  2.  For purposes of this section, the term "farmers' market" shall mean a market with multiple stalls at which farmer-producers sell agricultural products, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables, directly to the general public at a central or fixed location.

  3.  Purchases of approved fresh food by SNAP participants under this section shall automatically trigger matching funds reimbursement into the central farmers' market vendor accounts by the department.

  4.  The funding of this pilot program shall be subject to appropriation.  In addition to appropriations from the general assembly, the department may apply for available grants and shall be able to accept other gifts, grants, and donations to develop and maintain the program.

  5.  The department shall promulgate rules setting forth the procedures and methods of implementing this section.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under and pursuant to the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2014, shall be invalid and void.

  6.  Under and pursuant to section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset act:

  (1)  The provisions of this section shall sunset automatically six years after August 28, 2021, unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; and

  (2)  If such program is reauthorized, the program authorized under this section shall sunset automatically twelve years after the effective date of the reauthorization of this section; and

  (3)  This section shall terminate on September first of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the program authorized under this section is sunset.

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(L. 2014 S.B. 680 merged with S.B. 727, A.L. 2021 H.B. 432)

Sunset date 8-28-27

Termination date 9-01-28