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SB-1190 Women, infants, and children’s nutrition.(2011-2012)



Current Version: 08/06/12 - Amended Assembly

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SB1190:v95#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  August 06, 2012
Amended  IN  Assembly  July 03, 2012
Amended  IN  Senate  May 29, 2012
Amended  IN  Senate  March 29, 2012

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2011–2012 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 1190

Introduced  by  Senator Hancock
 (Coauthor(s): Senator Pavley)

February 22, 2012

An act to add and repeal Section 123303 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to maternal and child health.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 1190, as amended, Hancock. Women, infants, and children’s nutrition.
Existing law, the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), under the administration of the State Department of Public Health, provides for the issuance of nutrition coupons, as defined, to certain low-income women, infants, and children who have been determined to be at nutritional risk. Existing law authorizes the department to design, implement, and fund an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system for WIC. Existing law requires the department to develop a plan to determine the feasibility of implementing an EBT system for WIC by January 1, 2003, and to report its findings to the Legislature by July 1, 2003.
This bill would require the department to provide to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the office of the State Chief Information Officer biannual, 2 briefings per year, provided within 30 days of the close of the first and third quarter of each year and with the first quarter commencing on January 1, 2013, on the development of the EBT system, until the system is fully operational. This bill would repeal those provisions on January 1, 2023.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) An electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system for the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has not yet been implemented in California.
(b) Existing law directed the State Department of Health Services to develop a plan to determine the feasibility of implementing an EBT system for WIC by January 1, 2003.
(c) The current paper check system is cumbersome, outdated, stigmatizing for participants at the checkstand, and costly to operate.
(d) Several other states, including Texas, Michigan, Nevada, and New Mexico, have fully implemented an EBT system for WIC, while Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and Arkansas are in the pilot phase of implementing an EBT system for WIC.
(e) Accordingly, it is the intent of the Legislature to implement an EBT system for WIC as soon as feasible.

SEC. 2.

 Section 123303 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

123303.
 (a) The department shall provide to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the office of the State Chief Information Officer biannual briefings twice a year on the development of the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system for the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children, pursuant to Section 123302. These biannual briefings shall be provided within 30 days of the close of the first and third quarter of each year, with the first quarter commencing January 1, 2013, and shall continue until the EBT system is fully operational.
(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2023, and as of that date, is repealed.