WEST virginia Legislature

2019 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 19

Senators Blair, Boso, Cline, Jeffries, Lindsay, Baldwin, and Stollings, original sponsors

[Originating in the Committee on Finance; Reported on February 6, 2019]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §19-1-13, relating to the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program; setting forth legislative findings and intent; creating special revenue account designated the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Fund; identifying source of funds; providing terms for expenditures; requesting additional moneys to be added to the fund; and directing that balance funds at the end of the fiscal year remain in the fund.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1.  DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

§19-1-13.  Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Fund.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that:

(1) The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has participated in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program since the program’s inception in 2001 and competes with other states for federal grant funding. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program currently provides vouchers to eligible seniors to purchase produce at farmers markets around the state.

(2) The voucher is beneficial to both the seniors who receive the health benefits of additional produce in their diets and local farmers benefit from the additional moneys being used to purchase produce at local farmers markets.

(3) According to the Center for Disease Control, healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Fruits and vegetables also provide essential vitamins and minerals, fiber, and other substances that are important for good health.

(4) In 2010, 23,750 eligible seniors received $20 in vouchers.

(5) The state should consider adding $10 to the amount of the current voucher.

(b) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special revenue account to be known as the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Fund. The fund shall be administered by the Department of Agriculture. The fund shall consist of any moneys that may be appropriated and designated for the fund by the Legislature, and all interest or other return earned from investment of the fund.

(c) Expenditures from the fund shall be for the purpose of supplementing the federal funds received for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and are not authorized from collections but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of §12-3-1 et seq. of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in §11B-2-1 et seq. of this code. Any balance, including accrued interest and other returns, remining in the fund at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general revenue fund but shall remain in the fund and be expended as provided by this section.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to create a fund subject to general revenue appropriation to provide for additional moneys to be used for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to develop a Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Fund within the Department of Agriculture. The bill also asks that the state consider adding an additional $30 to the $20 in vouchers that eligible seniors received in 2010.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.