PRINTER'S NO. 1266
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
967
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, BROOKS, HUGHES, MENSCH, FONTANA, COSTA,
KEARNEY, SANTARSIERO, COMITTA, STREET, BAKER AND CAPPELLETTI,
DECEMBER 10, 2021
REFERRED TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DECEMBER 10, 2021
AN ACT
Establishing the Women, Infants and Children State Advisory
Board.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The Commonwealth intends to maximize the Federal
funding available for the Pennsylvania Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children by
maximizing enrollment in the program in order to support
healthier pregnancies and births and improved health in
children in our Commonwealth and coordinate other programs
that support women, infants and children.
(2) Immediate action is needed to halt the steady
decline in WIC enrollment and the resultant decrease in
Federal funding and nutritional assistance for Pennsylvania's
lower-income women, infants and children, by increased use of
technology, administrative organization, greater transparency
in operation and use of Federal funding.
(3) It is necessary to steadily increase enrollment in
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
programs that support women, infants and children, eliminate
enrollment barriers, coordinate and connect with related
programs and maximize technology to improve maternal and
infant birth outcomes and the health of children eligible for
participation in the program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the WIC State
Advisory Board Act.
Section 2. 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:
"Board." The Women, Infants and Children State Advisory
Board established in section 3.
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"SNAP." Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
"WIC." The Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants and Children.
Section 3. Establishment.
The Women, Infants and Children State Advisory Board is
established in the department.
Section 4. Duties.
(a) Advising.--The board shall advise the department and
other agencies providing nutrition services in health care to
lower-income and other eligible women and children in this
Commonwealth on the following topics:
(1) On the operation of the programs, to:
(i) Increase enrollment and utilization of the
20210SB0967PN1266 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
programs, including:
(A) A study on the feasibility to implement a
memorandum of understanding with the Department of
Human Services to streamline the enrollment process
for eligible participants who are applying for SNAP
or medical assistance.
(B) Utilizing the COMPASS app to apply for
health and human services programs and manage benefit
information.
(ii) Improve the quality of services to support
connections between WIC and comprehensive services to
address the social, health, educational and other needs
of pregnant individuals, mothers, infants and toddlers.
(2) To develop an annual plan for outreach, including
targeted outreach to immigrants and other underserved
populations, and to increase enrollment by promoting outreach
and enrollment in each region through public-private
partnerships.
(3) To advise on technology improvements and
enhancements to be made using the American Rescue Plan Act of
2021 (Public Law 117-2, 135 Stat. 4) funds, including:
(i) Using a smart card that allows remote loading
and increased capacity for additional benefits.
(ii) Developing online appointment scheduling.
(iii) Maximizing innovations in telehealth to reduce
the need for in-person office visits.
(iv) Easing the ability to do online purchasing of
WIC benefits.
(v) Providing seamless enrollment and data sharing
between the department and the Department of Human
20210SB0967PN1266 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Services.
(vi) Developing the ability to obtain weight and
height measurements from a primary care physician through
telehealth.
(vii) Maximizing the use of text messaging to
participants on an individual and group basis.
(viii) Other technology and data improvements to
provide a more consumer-centered administration of the
Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants and Children.
(ix) Streamlining eligibility by using technology to
verify income and other requirements.
(4) On coordination and collation of services, to
improve efficiency and effectiveness of those services.
(5) On planned policy, administrative changes and budget
requests, to obtain input from the board prior to
implementation.
(b) Duties.--The board shall have the following duties:
(1) Review current aggregate data on WIC eligibility and
enrollment at the regional level from the department and the
Department of Human Services.
(2) Set outcome goals for enrollment and retention to
collectively take action through public-private partnerships
to address improvement opportunities.
(3) Develop an annual action plan for the department and
the Department of Human Services.
(4) Become familiar with the WIC Policy Manual and WIC
State plan to ensure all members are aware of the current
efforts.
(5) Research best practices that are used in other
20210SB0967PN1266 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
states.
(6) Consult with agencies on what stakeholders could do
to promote outreach, enrollment and connection to
comprehensive services.
(7) Develop or disseminate outreach and educational
materials to reduce the stigma around WIC.
(8) Coordinate a cohesive group across this Commonwealth
to promote WIC across many channels and organizations that
work with potential WIC participants to create a unified
message.
(9) Serve as a leverage point for ongoing initiatives
benefiting women, infants and children.
Section 5. Membership and meetings.
(a) Membership.--The board shall consist of the following
members:
(1) Ex officio members.--The following individuals shall
be ex officio members of the board:
(i) The Secretary of Health or a designee.
(ii) The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.
(iii) The Director of WIC or a designee.
(2) Members of the board shall include one
representative from each of the following:
(i) A regional health care provider serving women,
infants and children.
(ii) An obstetrician.
(iii) A pediatrician.
(iv) A licensed dietician.
(v) A representative of a retail grocery store chain
contracted with the Commonwealth to provide online sales.
(vi) A WIC program provider agency representative
20210SB0967PN1266 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
from each of the six regions as designated by the
Commonwealth or national association of WIC agency
providers.
(vii) A consumer advocate with expertise in
federally funded nutritional programs.
(b) Additional members.--The board may at any time make
additional appointments to the board that may be necessary to
carry out its duties.
(c) Terms.--Members of the board shall be appointed on an
annual basis by the secretary of the department for a term not
to exceed three consecutive years.
(d) Vacancies.--Vacancies in the membership of the board
shall be filled in the same manner as provided for the original
appointments.
(e) Staffing.--The board shall be staffed in collaboration
with individuals from:
(1) The department.
(2) The Department of Human Services.
(3) SNAP.
(f) Subcommittees.--The board may at any time create
subcommittees of the board members to carry out specific tasks
or research. Subcommittees are to be created on an ad hoc basis
and are not to replace or interfere with the efforts of the
board.
(g) Meetings.--The board shall meet in accordance with the
following:
(1) Members shall meet no less than 10 times per year.
(2) The agenda for each meeting and all meeting minutes
shall be posted to the department's publicly accessible
Internet website.
20210SB0967PN1266 - 6 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(3) Meetings shall comply with the following:
(i) The act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3),
known as the Right-to-Know Law.
(ii) 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20210SB0967PN1266 - 7 -
1
2
3
4
5
6