AB474 - Requires the establishment and carrying out of a program to supplement the available food supply for certain persons in certain circumstances. (BDR 38-1103)

EXEMPT (Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 15, 2025) FIRST REPRINT A.B. 474 - *AB474_R1* ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 474–COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS MARCH 19, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services SUMMARY—Requires the establishment and carrying out of a program to supplement the available food supply for certain persons in certain circumstances. (BDR 38-1103) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No. Effect on the State: Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to public welfare; requiring, to the extent that money is available, the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish and carry out a program to supplement the supply of food available to recipients of benefits of certain federal programs; creating the Surplus Food Assistance Account in the State General Fund; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing federal law establishes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 1 Program, which provides assistance to certain low-income families for the purchase 2 of food. (7 U.S.C. §§ 2011 et seq.) Existing state law requires the Department of 3 Health and Human Services to administer that Program in this State. (NRS 4 422A.338) Section 2 of this bill requires, to the extent that money is available for 5 such purposes, the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department 6 to establish and carry out a program to supplement the supply of food available to 7 recipients of benefits provided under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 8 Program using mechanisms designed to identify surplus food and distribute such 9 surplus food to recipients at a discount. Section 2 also requires the Division to 10 adopt a plan for the program that includes a system to: (1) reduce food waste using 11 technology to redirect surplus food to areas in which recipients are experiencing a 12 higher need for more affordable and healthier food; (2) reduce food insecurity for 13 recipients; and (3) increase access to food for recipients who are senior citizens. 14 Section 2 further requires the Division to take any action necessary to obtain 15 – 2 – - *AB474_R1* federal authorization to carry out the program, including, without limitation, 16 applying for any necessary federal waiver. 17 Section 3 of this bill creates the Surplus Food Assistance Account in the State 18 General Fund, to be administered by the Administrator of the Division and used 19 only to carry out the program established by section 2. Section 3 also: (1) 20 authorizes the Administrator to apply for and accept gifts, grants, bequests and 21 other contributions; (2) requires that any such money be deposited in the Account; 22 and (3) provides for the nonreversion of the money in the Account to the State 23 General Fund. Section 4 of this bill makes a conforming change as a result of the 24 creation of this Account. 25 Section 5 of this bill makes an appropriation to the Surplus Food Assistance 26 Account for the program established by section 2. 27 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 422A of NRS is hereby amended by 1 adding thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 and 3 of this act. 2 Sec. 2. 1. To the extent that money is available for such 3 purposes, the Division shall establish and carry out a program to 4 supplement the supply of food available to recipients of benefits 5 provided under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 6 using mechanisms designed to identify surplus food and distribute 7 such surplus food to the recipients at a discount. 8 2. In carrying out the program established pursuant to 9 subsection 1, the Division shall adopt a plan for the program that 10 must include, without limitation, a system to: 11 (a) Reduce food waste using technology to redirect surplus 12 food to areas in which recipients are experiencing a higher need 13 for more affordable and healthier food; 14 (b) Reduce food insecurity for recipients; and 15 (c) Increase access to food for recipients who are senior 16 citizens. 17 3. The Division shall take any action necessary to obtain 18 federal authorization to carry out the program established 19 pursuant to subsection 1, including, without limitation, applying 20 for any necessary federal waiver. 21 Sec. 3. 1. The Surplus Food Assistance Account is hereby 22 created in the State General Fund. 23 2. The Administrator shall administer the Account. 24 3. In addition to any direct legislative appropriation, the 25 Administrator may apply for and accept any gift, grant, bequest, 26 donation or other source of money. Any money so received must 27 be deposited in the Account. 28 – 3 – - *AB474_R1* 4. Any interest and income earned on money in the Account, 1 after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the 2 Account. 3 5. The money in the Account must be used only to carry out 4 the program established pursuant to section 2 of this act. 5 6. Claims against the Account must be paid as other claims 6 against the State are paid. 7 7. Any money remaining in the Account at the end of a fiscal 8 year does not revert to the State General Fund, and the balance in 9 the Account must be carried forward to the next fiscal year. 10 Sec. 4. NRS 422A.232 is hereby amended to read as follows: 11 422A.232 1. [Any] Except as otherwise provided in section 12 3 of this act, any gifts or grants of money which the Division is 13 authorized to accept must be deposited in the State Treasury to the 14 credit of the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services’ Gift and 15 Cooperative Account in the Department of Health and Human 16 Services’ Gift Fund. 17 2. Money in the Account must be used for welfare purposes 18 only and expended in accordance with the terms of the gift or grant. 19 3. All claims must be approved by the Administrator before 20 they are paid. 21 Sec. 5. There is hereby appropriated from the State General 22 Fund to the Surplus Food Assistance Account created by section 3 23 of this act the sum of $5,000,000 to carry out the program 24 established pursuant to section 2 of this act. 25 Sec. 6. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval. 26 H