This bill changes section 9(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to change how the restaurant meals program works. It limits participating private establishments to retail food stores that have a prepared food section, hot bar, or deli counter, are not mainly quick-service or fast-food businesses, and meet state and local food safety rules for grocery stores or supermarkets. The bill says benefits can be used only for prepared meals that are meant to be eaten right away and that include at least one fruit or vegetable and one protein (as the Secretary defines protein). It removes the need for a separate authorization for a retail food store already authorized under section 9, and directs the Secretary to make sure EBT and retailer coding systems are kept up to date so benefits are limited to eligible households. The bill also says a spouse of a SNAP-eligible person may not participate in this subsection of the program. Finally, it requires a publicly available report showing participating establishments (by name and location), benefit redemptions at each, the number of people using the program, program costs, and the program's effectiveness.
No publicly available information on the bill's federal cost or estimated fiscal impact. The bill does require a report that must include information on the program's costs, but it does not include cost estimates in the text provided.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.