S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2178
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 23, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law, in  relation  to  establishing  a
   healthy savings pilot program
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Article 2 of the public health law is amended by  adding  a
 new title 7 to read as follows:
                                 TITLE VII
                       HEALTHY SAVINGS PILOT PROGRAM
 SECTION 268. HEALTHY SAVINGS PILOT PROGRAM.
   § 268. HEALTHY SAVINGS PILOT PROGRAM. 1. THERE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED IN
 THE  DEPARTMENT,  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER, A HEALTHY SAVINGS PILOT PROGRAM
 DESIGNED TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY AND HEALTH INEQUITY THROUGH  THE  USE
 OF  DISCOUNTS  ON HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES AT GROCERY STORES AND SUPERMAR-
 KETS.
   2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, THROUGH ITS OWN MEANS OR BY PARTNERING WITH A
 COMPANY WHICH IMPLEMENTS HEALTHY SAVINGS  INITIATIVES,  CREATE  A  PILOT
 PROGRAM WHICH MEETS THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATIONS:
   (A)  AT  LEAST  ONE  MILLION  PEOPLE  SHALL HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM
 ACROSS THE PROGRAM;
   (B) THE PROGRAM SHALL HAVE A COMPANION PHONE APPLICATION  AND  WEBSITE
 FOR  SHOWING WHICH HEALTHY FOOD ITEMS ARE BEING OFFERED AT A DISCOUNT AT
 THAT TIME AND WHERE THEY CAN BE PURCHASED;
   (C) DISCOUNT CARDS SHALL BE ISSUED TO THOSE WHO APPLY FOR THE  PROGRAM
 WHICH FACILITATE THE PURCHASE OF HEALTHY FOOD ITEMS AT A DISCOUNT;
   (D)  DISCOUNTS  IN PARTICIPATING GROCERY STORES AND SUPERMARKETS SHALL
 BE ON AT LEAST THE HEALTHIEST QUARTER OF ITEMS SOLD IN SUCH LOCATION  AS
 DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER; AND
   (E) THE PROGRAM SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED IN SECTIONS OF THREE CITIES WHERE
 FOOD INSECURITY AND HEALTH INEQUITY ARE A HEALTH ISSUE.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD05633-01-9

 S. 2178                             2
 
   3.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL PURSUE AVAILABLE FUNDING AND COST REDUCTION
 OPTIONS AND MAKE EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP  WITH
 GROCERY  STORES,  SUPERMARKETS,  AND  ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY
 FOOD CHOICES.
   4.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE QUALITY,
 APPROPRIATENESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM AND SHALL REPORT TO THE
 LEGISLATURE WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS  SECTION,  AND
 EACH  YEAR  ON  JANUARY  FIRST OF EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, ON THE PROGRAM'S
 EFFECTIVENESS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.