BILL NUMBER: AB 537	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 28, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 25, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 23, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 1, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Arambula
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Caballero   and Solorio   ) 

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   An act to add  Section10072.1   Section
10072.1  to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to
public benefits.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 537, as amended, Arambula. Farmers' markets: electronic benefit
transfers.
   Existing law provides for the establishment of a statewide
electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system for the purpose of providing
financial and food assistance benefits to needy Californians.
   This bill would require, with certain exceptions  ,  a
flea market  ,  farmers' market  ,  or certified
farmers' market that does not have an EBT system in place by January
1, 2012, to designate or assign an interested Food  and 
Nutrition Service (FNS)-authorized organization to operate an EBT
acceptance system in the market, as specified. The bill would require
the State Department of Social Services to consider and solicit
input from the market prior to making a designation or assignment
authorized under the bill, to avoid potential conflicts, as
specified.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 10072.1 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
   10072.1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that flea
 market   markets,  farmers' markets  ,
 and certified farmers' markets are important sources of
low-cost produce for Californians in need of food assistance.
   (b) (1) If by January 1, 2012, a market described in subdivision
(a) does not have a system in place for its produce sellers to accept
electronic benefit transfer (EBT) for purchases, the State
Department of Social Services may designate or assign an interested
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)-authorized organization to operate
an EBT acceptance system in the market on behalf of the market's
produce sellers. The market shall allow and accommodate the
FNS-authorized organization in a reasonable manner that aids in the
creation, implementation, and operation of the EBT acceptance system.

   (2) This subdivision shall not apply to a market described in
subdivision (a) that operates an active and current EBT acceptance
system.
   (c) The State Department of Social Services shall consider and
solicit input from the market prior to making a designation or
assignment authorized under this section  ,  to
avoid, among other potential conflicts, the selection of an entity
that is in direct competition with the market being served. The
department may condition an assignment or designation, and remove an
FNS-authorized organization previously designated or assigned by the
department.
   (d) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to require a
market described in subdivision (a) to itself create, operate, or
maintain an EBT acceptance system on behalf of its produce sellers.