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Amendments › SF 2443

Amendment H-8396 to SF 2443

Relating to state government and finances, including by making, modifying, limiting, or reducing appropriations, distributions, or transfers, authorizing expenditure of unappropriated moneys in special funds, providing for properly related matters including the state government efficiency review committee and teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil calculations, making corrections, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions

Ruled not germane · April 19, 2024

Filed April 20, 2024 in the House by

What it changes

  1. Page 12, after line 7 by inserting: “DIVISION ___ EBT Sec. ___. FINDINGS. The general assembly finds all of the following:
  2. The Iowa general assembly, in conjunction with state agencies, has a duty to ensure Iowa children have access to food and essential nutrition regardless of income level.
  3. Summer can be a time of increased hunger for children who no longer have access to regular school lunches.
  4. Iowa is currently experiencing a food insecurity crisis as food banks and other charitable organizations continue to report record high demand from Iowans in need.
  5. There are an estimated two hundred forty thousand children in Iowa who would be eligible to receive benefits under the summer electronic benefits transfer (EBT) for children program, as established as a permanent program under the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, 42 U.S.C. §1762.
  6. When Iowans are struggling financially, they are more likely to buy less expensive foods, which are high in calories and low in nutritional value.
  7. Summer congregate and noncongregate meals are not always easily accessible to families in need, particularly in rural Iowa.
  8. The summer EBT for children program offered by the federal government would provide an estimated twenty-nine million dollars to address the food insecurity crisis, which not only feeds children but stimulates local economic activity.
  9. Iowa ended fiscal year 2022-2023 with a general fund balance of one billion eight hundred thirty-one million dollars. Iowa can afford to feed hungry children and cover the costs of administering the summer EBT for children program. Sec. ___. PARTICIPATION IN SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (EBT) FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM —— APPROPRIATION.
  10. The department of health and human services, in coordination with the department of education, shall do all of the following: a. Immediately upon the effective date of this Act, submit a letter of intent to the United States secretary of agriculture to apply for and participate in the summer EBT for children program offered by the United States department of agriculture food and nutrition service during summer
  11. b. Coordinate with the United States department of agriculture food and nutrition service to develop a successful management and administration plan for the summer EBT for children program, and submit the plan to the United States secretary of agriculture by February 15,
  13. There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of health and human services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, a sufficient amount to cover the costs of administering the summer EBT for children program during summer
  14. Moneys appropriated under this section that remain unexpended or unencumbered at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure in the succeeding fiscal year. Sec. ___. EFFECTIVE DATE. This division of this Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. Sec. ___. RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY. This division of this Act applies retroactively to July 1,
  15. ”
  16. By renumbering as necessary.

Official amendment (PDF) · In the Bill Book