H.R. 2404 – Enhancing Nutrition Services to the Elderly and Disabled Act of 2013

113th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2404

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 17, 2013

Mr. Paulsen (for himself, Ms. McCollum, and Mr. McGovern) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to permit providers of eligible food purchasing and delivery services to be approved as retail food stores that accept and redeem supplemental nutrition assistance benefits.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Enhancing Nutrition Services to the Elderly and Disabled Act of 2013.

Enhancing services to elderly and disabled supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients

Section 3(p) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(p)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (3) by striking and at the end,

(2)

in paragraph (4) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and, and

(3)

by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:

(5)

a public or private nonprofit food purchasing and delivery service that—

(A)

purchases food for, and delivers such food to, individuals who are—

(i)

unable to shop for food; and

(ii)

(I)

not less than 60 years of age; or

(II)

physically or mentally handicapped or otherwise disabled;

(B)

clearly notifies the participating household at the time such household places a food order—

(i)

of any delivery fee associated with the food purchase and delivery provided to such household by such service; and

(ii)

that a delivery fee cannot be paid with benefits provided under the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and

(C)

sells food purchased for such household at the price paid by such service for such food and without any additional cost markup.

Implementation

(a)

Issuance of regulations

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue regulations that—

(1)

establish criteria to identify a food purchasing and delivery service referred to in section 3(p)(5) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, and

(2)

establish procedures to ensure that such service—

(A)

does not charge more for a food item than the price paid by such service for such food item,

(B)

offers food delivery service at no or low cost to households under such Act,

(C)

ensures that benefits provided under the supplemental nutrition assistance program are used only to purchase food, as defined in section 3 of such Act,

(D)

limits the purchase of food, and the delivery of such food, to households eligible to receive services described in section 3(p)(5) of this Act,

(E)

has established adequate safeguards against fraudulent activities, including unauthorized use of electronic benefit cards issued under such Act, and

(F)

such other requirements as the Secretary deems to be appropriate.

(b)

Limitation

Before the issuance of regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture may not approve more than 20 food purchasing and delivery services referred to in section 3(p)(5) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to participate as retail food stores under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Effective date

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Enhancing Nutrition Services to the Elderly and Disabled Act of 2013

Legislative Activity

Bill Text