Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 256-770 WAC, Fruit and vegetable incentives, the department of health (department) is considering creating a new chapter to implement a fruit and vegetable incentives program.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 43.70.780 requires the department to adopt rules to implement a fruit and vegetable incentives program. The program includes farmers' market basic food incentives, grocery store basic food incentives, and fruit and vegetable vouchers. These incentives allow eligible participants to receive extra benefits or cash-value vouchers to purchase fruit and vegetables from farmers' markets and food retailers. The department will consider establishing criteria used to determine whether a grocer may become an approved grocery store for the purposes of participating in the fruit and vegetable incentives program.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Farmers market basic food incentives and grocery store basic food incentives are regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Services (USDA). The department will ensure that state rules will align with federal rules for these incentives. No further coordination between the department and USDA is necessary. The Washington state department of social and health services (DSHS) administers the supplemental nutrition assistance program, known in Washington state as basic food. The department will coordinate with DSHS via email, phone, [and] online meetings to ensure the fruit and vegetable incentives program rules are compliant with the basic food rules adopted by DSHS.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Alyssa Auvinen, P.O. Box 47848, Olympia, WA 98504-7848, phone 360-999-8967, TTY 711, email alyssa.auvinen@doh.wa.gov.