BILL REQ. #:  S-3545.1 

Read first time 01/14/2004.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture.

     AN ACT Relating to expansion of the farmers market nutrition program for women, infants, and children; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) The farmers market nutrition program promotes health, prevents obesity, and encourages the development of good eating habits by enabling low-income women to purchase locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables for themselves and their young children. Women and children in fourteen counties of the state are presently able to participate in the program.
     (2) Farmers markets and agencies administering the federal women, infants, and children nutrition program in many additional counties have expressed interest in offering this nutrition option for low-income women and children in their local areas, but have been denied the opportunity to participate because state funds have not been available for program expansion.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   During fiscal year 2005, one hundred thousand dollars from the general fund--state and two hundred thirty-three thousand dollars from the general fund--federal are appropriated to the department of health to expand the farmers market nutrition program into areas of the state in which agencies administering the federal women, infants, and children nutrition program do not presently receive state matching funds to participate in the program. The first priority for program expansion shall be to areas of the state that have demonstrated need for and commitment to the program by raising local contributions to meet federal matching fund requirements.