S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1096
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 10, 2023
                                ___________
 
 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 9 to read as follows:
                                 TITLE IX
                       HEALTHY SAVINGS PILOT PROGRAM
 SECTION 269-C. HEALTHY SAVINGS PILOT PROGRAM.
   §  269-C. 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 STATE;
   (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.
                                                            LBD03316-01-3
              

 S. 1096                             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
 ON  JANUARY  FIRST  OF EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, ON THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVE-
 NESS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.