GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 2316

Short Title:  Food Stamp Program/Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Wiser; Barnes, Easterling, B. Ethridge, Foster, Judy Hunt, Kennedy, Stamey, and S. Thompson.
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Referred to:  Human Resources.
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June 6, 1990

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO USE OF THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Two State level coordinator positions for the Food Stamp Program are established in the Division of Social Services, Department of Human Resources.  These coordinators shall:
(1)	Assist county human services staff in the development of local activities designed to remove barriers to participation in the Food Stamp Program;
(2)	Establish a recognition process for counties with the most improved rate of participation in the Food Stamp Program;
(3)	Develop a Referral Network consisting of local and State-level community action and advocacy groups in order to ensure that potentially eligible persons apply for the Food Stamp Program;
(4)	Establish and maintain ongoing contact with various agencies serving low-income persons, including crises centers, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), community health centers, senior citizen centers, shelters, food kitchens, agricultural extension agencies, the Employment Security Commission, churches, schools, Head Start centers, Indian Affairs agencies, legal services, migrant services, public housing, and adult day care; and
(5)	Provide training to community action and advocacy groups wishing to know more about the Food Stamp Program.
Sec. 2.  The Division of Social Services, Department of Human Resources, shall develop informational pamphlets on the Food Stamp Program for community distribution, aimed at reaching the following groups:
(1)	The rural poor;
(2)	Senior and disabled citizens;
(3)	Migrants;
(4)	AFDC and Medicaid recipients;
(5)	The homeless;
(6)	The working poor; and
(7)	Farmers and fishermen.
Sec. 3.  The Division of Social Services, Department of Human Resources, shall develop an instructional videotape on the Food Stamp Program to include:
(1)	Food Stamp Program eligibility requirements;
(2)	Food Stamp Program clients' rights and responsibilities;
(3)	Food Stamp Program methods of issuance, including mail, "on-line,”and "authorization to participate” cards; and
(4)	Food Stamp use in grocery stores.
The instructional videotape shall be designed for use by county human services staff and others, such as community action agencies, when providing information to recipients and potential applicants.
Sec. 4.  The Division of Social Services, Department of Human Resources, shall develop a media campaign on the Food Stamp Program, to include:
(1)	A pamphlet for community distribution to describe the Food Stamp Program, its eligibility requirements, and how to apply;
(2)	Public service spots on the Food Stamp Program for radio and television; and
(3)	Informational material on the Food Stamp Program regarding:
a.	Facts about poverty and myths and stereotypes of the Food Stamp Program and its participants; and
b.	Histories of people now considered successful who received food stamps in the past.
Sec. 5.  (a)	The Division of Social Services, Department of Human Resources, shall facilitate and administer at the State level, demonstration projects, to be conducted by those counties that choose and are selected to participate, designed to remove barriers to needed participation in the Food Stamp Program.  These projects shall consist of those comprehensive activities participating counties consider necessary to remove barriers to necessary use of the Food Stamp Program.  Participating counties may contract with local agencies to conduct these activities.
(b)	Counties desiring to participate in the demonstration projects authorized in subsection (a) of this act to enable them to conduct comprehensive activities designed to remove barriers to necessary use of the Food Stamp Program shall submit a detailed plan to a review committee appointed by the Secretary of Human Resources, upon consultation with the Director of the Division of Social Services.  A project may include one county only or may be a multicounty effort.  In its selection process, the review committee shall consider those criteria the Department of Human Resources adopts by rule making, including:
(1)	Requiring that projects be geographically diverse, with both rural and urban representation; and
(2)	Giving priority to those areas with the most need, based on poverty level information and participation rates.
(c)	In order to be considered for selection to participate in the demonstration projects, a county's plan shall include:
(1)	The establishing of a referral network consisting of community action agencies, client advocates, and other appropriate agencies that work with low-income families.  The Division of Social Services shall furnish to the county a list of such groups that may be active in that county.  The county shall expand this list to include any other local groups of which it is aware;
(2)	The informing of the community about the Food Stamp Program through informational materials, and visits to community agencies;
(3)	The training of local groups on a semi-annual basis to update awareness of Food Stamp policies;
(4)	The training of volunteers to assist with completing the Food Stamp application;
(5)	The securing of local media support for distribution of information regarding program highlights, feature stories, and program announcements;
(6)	The effective use of outposts, extended office hours and home visits;
(7)	The establishing of a local advisory board consisting of representatives, from both public and private sections, who work with low-income families.  This board shall meet regularly to discuss and coordinate issues affecting these families.
Sec. 6.  The Division of Social Services, Department of Human Resources, shall develop a method of evaluating its activities, and the activities of the county human services staff, designed to remove barriers to Food Stamp Program use.  The evaluation shall include the examination of why target groups fail to use the program, the nature of referral networks established, and the enhanced training of the human services staff.  The Division of Social Services may contract for the evaluation.
Sec. 7.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Social Services, Department of Human Resources, the sum of $347,818 for the 1990-91 fiscal year to fund the State share of the cost of funding this act.
Sec. 8.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1990.