PRINTER'S NO. 1190
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
992
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY D. MILLER, INNAMORATO, KINSEY, SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-
EVANS, N. NELSON, HOHENSTEIN, GUENST, D. WILLIAMS, FRANKEL,
DEASY, SIMS, SANCHEZ AND LEE, APRIL 7, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, APRIL 7, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of July 10, 1986 (P.L.1396, No.121), entitled
"An act authorizing the use of State funds to expand a
special supplemental food program for women, infants and
children," further providing for definitions and providing
for Remote eWIC Reloading Pilot Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3 of the act of July 10, 1986 (P.L.1396,
No.121), known as the Women's, Infants' and Children's Nutrition
Improvement Act, is amended by adding definitions to read:
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
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"eWIC card." The card issued to WIC eligibles for the
purpose of purchasing allowed items through the WIC Program.
"eWIC program." The Remote eWIC Reloading Pilot Program
established under section 5.1 of this act.
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Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 5.1. Remote eWIC Reloading Pilot Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Remote eWIC Reloading Pilot Program
is established as a pilot program within the department.
(b) Funding.--The department shall seek funding from the
General Fund to implement the eWIC program.
(c) Notice.--Upon the initial appropriation of sufficient
money to implement the eWIC program, the department shall
transmit notice of the appropriation to the Legislative
Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
(d) Eligibility.--Individuals who are deemed to be WIC
eligibles and who live in a county of the first class or a
county of the second class shall be eligible to participate in
the eWIC program.
(e) Administration.--The department shall administer the
eWIC program to empower WIC Program administrators in a county
of the first class or a county of the second class to
collaboratively develop a system that allows WIC funds to be
remotely reloaded onto eWIC cards administered to WIC eligibles.
The following apply:
(1) The department shall develop a remote eWIC system to
allow the virtual reloading of WIC funds onto eWIC cards for
the purpose of granting WIC eligibles the option of not
reporting in person to have money reloaded onto issued eWIC
cards.
(2) The department shall:
(i) Promulgate regulations necessary to implement
the eWIC program.
(ii) Seek any necessary waivers from the Federal
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Government to implement the eWIC program.
(3) The eWIC program shall be operated for one year
following the effective date of this section.
(f) Report.--Within one year of the conclusion of the eWIC
program, the department shall publish and transmit a report to
the General Assembly on the eWIC program, which shall include,
at a minimum, the following information:
(1) The overall participation rate of WIC services in
each county that participated in the eWIC program.
(2) The participation and nonparticipation rates among
WIC eligibles in the eWIC program.
(3) The participation rates of other services available
to WIC eligibles that are offered to individuals who report
in person to have their eWIC cards reloaded.
(4) The estimated funding necessary to implement a
remote eWIC reloading system for all WIC eligibles residing
in this Commonwealth.
(5) Any limitations or logistical barriers that could
prevent WIC eligibles from participating in a remote eWIC
reloading system in this Commonwealth, including broadband
connectivity and program and technological infrastructure.
(6) Suggestions to address any limitations or logistical
barriers specified in paragraph (5), following input sought
by the department from public and private organizations using
best practices that relate to the improvement of WIC
services.
(g) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall prevent WIC
eligibles from continuing to report in person to have WIC funds
reloaded onto an issued eWIC card.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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