BILL NUMBER: SB 1190	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 6, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 3, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 29, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 29, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hancock
   (Coauthor: 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.
State-mandated 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   (c) The current paper check system is cumbersome, outdated,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.