CS/HB 1083 Summary

• Establishes the Healthy Food Assistance Program within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to provide funding and assistance to small food retailers in low-income and moderate-income communities.

• Defines eligible small food retailers as stores under 3,000 square feet (corner stores, convenience stores, bodegas, etc.) located in communities meeting poverty or income thresholds based on census data.

• Limits approved fund expenditures to: equipment up to $7,500 per retailer, nutrition education materials and supplies, and initial healthy food purchases up to $2,000 per retailer.

• Requires project administrators to be not-for-profit entities with demonstrated experience in healthy food retail strategies; allows up to 10 percent of funds for administrative costs and exempts them from state procurement rules.

• Program sunsets June 30, 2020 unless reenacted by the Legislature; effective date is July 1, 2017; repeals the prior Healthy Food Financing Initiative statute.