ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

House: HHS DPA 7-5-0-0

HB 2165: SNAP; prohibited purchases; waiver

Sponsor: Representative Biasiucci, LD 30

House Engrossed

Overview

Requires the Director of the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude soda from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

History

SNAP is a federal program that provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget and help the family afford nutritious food. To be eligible for SNAP benefits, an applicant must meet specific age, household, employment and income requirements (USDA).

SNAP benefits are able to purchase any food for the household, such as: 1) fruits and vegetables; 2) meat, poultry and fish; 3) dairy products; 4) breads and cereals; 5) other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and 6) seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat (SNAP).

Households cannot use SNAP benefits to buy: 1) beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco; 2) vitamins, medicines and supplements; 3) live animals excluding shellfish, fish removed from water and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store; 4) foods that are hot at the point of sale; and 5) any nonfood items such as pet foods, cleaning supplies, paper products, hygiene items, cosmetics and other household supplies (SNAP).

Provisions

1.   Requires the DES Director to request a waiver from the USDA to exclude soda from SNAP. (Sec. 1)

2.   Requires the DES Director to prohibit SNAP enrollees from purchasing soda using SNAP benefits if the waiver is granted. (Sec. 1)

3.   Requires the DES Director, if the waiver is not granted, to request a waiver annually until the waiver is granted. (Sec. 1)

4.   Defines soda to mean a carbonated beverage that contains more than one gram of added sugar or any artificial sweetener. (Sec. 1)

 

 

 

 

 

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

                       

            Page 0          

 

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------