Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2020
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (2 Jul 2020): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S4228-4229)
What this bill does
The Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2020 would modify the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to increase online purchasing options for beneficiaries. It aims to achieve this by requiring all states to implement online SNAP purchasing and by establishing an online redemption portal and a technical assistance center. This would allow SNAP participants to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to buy eligible food items online and arrange for delivery.
This bill would affect SNAP participants, retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits, and state agencies. It would provide a new way for eligible households to access food through online purchases. The bill also specifies that the technical assistance center should prioritize small and limited-resource retailers when offering support. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture would maintain a public list of approved online SNAP retailers.
This bill was introduced in the Senate during the 116th Congress and was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. It has not advanced beyond its initial introduction and referral. If it were to move forward, it would typically proceed through committee review, potential amendments, and votes in the Senate, followed by a similar process in the House of Representatives before potentially being sent to the President.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2020
This bill revises the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to make the online redemption of benefits, including the acceptance of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, more widely available by requiring the implementation of online SNAP purchasing in every state and providing funding for an online redemption portal and a technical assistance center.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must award on a competitive basis one or more contracts to develop an EBT Online Redemption Portal to (1) allow program participants to use online or mobile electronic benefits transactions to purchase program foods from, and make online payments to, authorized program retailers under SNAP; and (2) facilitate food purchase delivery for program participants using such electronic benefits transactions.
The Food and Nutrition Service of USDA must award competitive grants or enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit entities to establish a SNAP Online Purchasing Technical Assistance Center to provide state agencies, authorized program retailers, and program participants information on and technical assistance with accepting SNAP benefits through online transactions and use of the portal. In providing technical assistance, the center must give priority to entities that are small and limited-resource retailers.
The bill provides funding for both the online redemption portal and the technical assistance center.
USDA must maintain on its website a publicly available listing, organized and searchable by region, locality, and state, of all approved retail food stores accepting benefits from recipients of SNAP, including through online transactions.
Timeline
2 Jul 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S4228-4229)
Common questions
- What does S. 4202 do?
- The Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2020 would modify the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to increase online purchasing options for beneficiaries. It aims to achieve this by requiring all states to implement online SNAP purchasing and by establishing an online redemption portal and a technical assistance center. This would allow SNAP participants to use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to buy eligible food items online and arrange for delivery. This bill would affect SNAP participants, retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits, and state agencies. It would provide a new way for eligible households to access food through online purchases. The bill also specifies that the technical assistance center should prioritize small and limited-resource retailers when offering support. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture would maintain a public list of approved online SNAP retailers. This bill was introduced in the Senate during the 116th Congress and was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. It has not advanced beyond its initial introduction and referral. If it were to move forward, it would typically proceed through committee review, potential amendments, and votes in the Senate, followed by a similar process in the House of Representatives before potentially being sent to the President.
- Has S. 4202 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 4202. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 4202?
- S. 4202 was sponsored by Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), with 4 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 4202?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S4228-4229) (2 Jul 2020).
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