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The Committee on Health and Human Services Appropriations (Rich)

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recommended the following amendment:

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     Senate Amendment (with title amendment)

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     Delete line(s) 61-94

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and insert:

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     (3) The Department of Health shall:

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     (a) By January 1, 2009, submit a plan for approval by the

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United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food and

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Nutrition Service, for the implementation of a statewide

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electronic benefits transfer program for the dissemination of

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benefits under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for

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Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), authorized by the Child

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Nutrition Act. The plan shall be developed in consultation with

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WIC vendors, including above-50-percent vendors.

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     (b) By July 1, 2010, establish a statewide electronic

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benefit transfer program for the dissemination of benefits under

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the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,

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and Children (WIC), authorized by the Child Nutrition Act. The

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electronic benefit transfer program shall be implemented in

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consultation with WIC vendors, including above-50-percent

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vendors.

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     (c) Submit reports to the Speaker of the House and the

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President of the Senate as to progress in obtaining federal

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approval and establishing a statewide electronic benefit transfer

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system by January 1, 2009, and by January 1, 2010.

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     Section 2.  Subsection (3) is added to section 383.011,

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Florida Statutes, to read:

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     383.011  Administration of maternal and child health

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programs.--

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     (3) In administering the WIC program, the Department of

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Health:

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     (a) Upon implementation of an electronic benefit transfer

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system and for the purposes of meeting the federal cost

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neutrality requirement of 7 C.F.R. part 246, shall compare the

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average cost of each food item redeemed by above-50-percent

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vendors against the average cost of the same food item redeemed

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by regular vendors. The department shall collect individual food

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item redemption costs by requiring authorized vendors to record

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the price of each redeemed item on the WIC voucher.

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     (b) May not discontinue a WIC-eligible generic product

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unless the product no longer meets the nutritional guidelines of

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the WIC program.

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================ T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================

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And the title is amended as follows:

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     Delete line(s) 4-11

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and insert:

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Health to submit a plan for the implementation of a

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electronic benefits transfer program for the dissemination

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of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits to the

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United States Department of Agriculture by a certain date

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and to establish the program by a certain date; amending

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s. 383.011, F.S.; requiring the

4/21/2008  5:16:00 PM     603-08193-08