Relating to health-related matters, including health-related professions, certificates of need, and nutrition, and including applicability provisions

The bill changes the definition of “new institutional health service” or “changed institutional health service”. The bill alters the list of items that are excluded from the provisions of Code chapter 135 (department of health and human services —— public health), subchapter VI (health facilities). The bill strikes a provision restricting the department of health and human services (HHS) from processing applications for an intermediate care facility for persons with an intellectual disability, or considering a new or changed institutional health service for an intermediate care facility for persons with an intellectual disability, unless the new or changed beds shall not result in an increase in the total number of medical assistance certified intermediate care facility beds for persons with an intellectual disability in the state, exclusive of those beds at the state resource centers or other state institutions, beyond 1,636 beds. The bill replaces a requirement that HHS hold a public hearing on an application for a certificate of need with a requirement that the department provide a period for the submission of written comments from affected persons. The bill strikes an authorization for the department to call a public hearing on the question of whether to grant an extension for an expiring certificate of need. DIVISION III —— SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM —— SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM. The bill requires HHS to continuously maintain state participation in the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) by administering the program in accordance with guidelines approved by the United States department of agriculture, food and nutrition service, to define “eligible foods” as “healthy foods”, as that term is defined by the department, and to seek any federal approval necessary to ensure that provision of benefits is continuous. The bill requires HHS to ensure that the provision of SNAP benefits to recipients is uninterrupted. The bill also allows HHS to participate in the summer electronic benefits transfer for children program, subject to federal approval of guidelines for eligible foods under the program that are similar to the guidelines for eligible foods under SNAP. DIVISION IV —— SCHOOL FOODS AND BEVERAGES. The bill prohibits school districts, certain charter schools, and innovation zone schools from serving meals to students as part of the school’s breakfast or lunch program that contain blue dye 1, blue dye 2, green dye 3, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 40, yellow dye 5, or yellow dye 6, unless the foods or beverages in the meal were received as part of a direct delivery from the foods in schools program of the United States department of agriculture. The bill also prohibits schools from permitting the sale to students of any foods or beverages that contain such ingredients on school campus unless the sale takes place after the end of the school day. The bill requires nonpublic schools that use moneys appropriated by the general assembly to provide breakfast or lunch to students to ensure that the meals comply with the same prohibition on ingredients as school districts. This division of the bill applies to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.