Requires the establishment and carrying out of a program to supplement the available food supply for certain persons in certain circumstances. (BDR 38-1103)

EXEMPT
(Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 15, 2025)
FIRST REPRINT A.B. 474

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ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 474–COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

MARCH 19, 2025
____________

Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

SUMMARY—Requires the establishment and carrying out of a
program to supplement the available food supply for
certain persons in certain circumstances.
(BDR 38-1103)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: Contains Appropriation not included
in Executive Budget.

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

AN ACT relating to public welfare; requiring, to the extent that
money is available, the Division of Welfare and
Supportive Services of t he Department of Health and
Human Services to establish and carry out a program to
supplement the supply of food available to recipients of
benefits of certain federal programs; creating the Surplus
Food Assistance Account in the State General Fund;
making an appropriation; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing federal law establishes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 1
Program, which provides assistance to certain low-income families for the purchase 2
of food. (7 U.S.C. §§ 2011 et seq.) Existing state law requires the Department of 3
Health and Human Services to administer that Program in this State. (NRS 4
422A.338) Section 2 of this bill requires, to the extent that money is available for 5
such purposes, the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department 6
to establish and carry out a program to supplement the supply of food available to 7
recipients of benefits provided under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 8
Program using mechanisms desi gned to identify surplus food and distribute such 9
surplus food to recipients at a discount. Section 2 also requires the Division to 10
adopt a plan for the program that includes a system to: (1) reduce food waste using 11
technology to redirect surplus food to a reas in which recipients are experiencing a 12
higher need for more affordable and healthier food; (2) reduce food insecurity for 13
recipients; and (3) increase access to food for recipients who are senior citizens. 14
Section 2 further requires the Division to ta ke any action necessary to obtain 15

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federal authorization to carry out the program, including, without limitation, 16
applying for any necessary federal waiver. 17
Section 3 of this bill creates the Surplus Food Assistance Account in the State 18
General Fund, to be administered by the Administrator of the Division and used 19
only to carry out the program established by section 2. Section 3 also: (1) 20
authorizes the Administrator t o apply for and accept gifts, grants, bequests and 21
other contributions; (2) requires that any such money be deposited in the Account; 22
and (3) provides for the nonreversion of the money in the Account to the State 23
General Fund. Section 4 of this bill makes a conforming change as a result of the 24
creation of this Account. 25
Section 5 of this bill makes an appropriation to the Surplus Food Assistance 26
Account for the program established by section 2. 27

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Chapter 422A of NRS is hereby amended by 1
adding thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 and 3 of this act. 2
Sec. 2. 1. To the extent that money is available for such 3
purposes, the Division shall establish and carry out a program to 4
supplement the supply of food available to recipients of benefits 5
provided under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 6
using mechanisms designed to identify surplus food and distribute 7
such surplus food to the recipients at a discount. 8
2. In carrying out the program established pursuant to 9
subsection 1, the Division shall adopt a plan for the program that 10
must include, without limitation, a system to: 11
(a) Reduce food waste using technology to redirect surplus 12
food to areas in which recipients are experiencing a higher need 13
for more affordable and healthier food; 14
(b) Reduce food insecurity for recipients; and 15
(c) Increase access t o food for recipients who are senior 16
citizens. 17
3. The Division shall take any action necessary to obtain 18
federal authorization to carry out the program established 19
pursuant to subsection 1, including, without limitation, applying 20
for any necessary federal waiver. 21
Sec. 3. 1. The Surplus Food Assistance Account is hereby 22
created in the State General Fund. 23
2. The Administrator shall administer the Account. 24
3. In addition to any direct legislative appropriation, the 25
Administrator may apply for and accept any gift, grant, bequest, 26
donation or other source of money. Any money so received must 27
be deposited in the Account. 28

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4. Any interest and income earned on money in the Account, 1
after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the 2
Account. 3
5. The money in the Account must be used only to carry out 4
the program established pursuant to section 2 of this act. 5
6. Claims against the Account must be paid as other claims 6
against the State are paid. 7
7. Any money remaining in the Account at the end of a fiscal 8
year does not revert to the State General Fund, and the balance in 9
the Account must be carried forward to the next fiscal year. 10
Sec. 4. NRS 422A.232 is hereby amended to read as follows: 11
422A.232 1. [Any] Except as otherwise provided in section 12
3 of this act, any gifts or grants of money which the Division is 13
authorized to accept must be deposited in the State Treasury to the 14
credit of the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services’ Gift and 15
Cooperative Account in the Department of Health and Human 16
Services’ Gift Fund. 17
2. Money in the Account must be used for welfare purposes 18
only and expended in accordance with the terms of the gift or grant. 19
3. All claims must be approved by the Administrator before 20
they are paid. 21
Sec. 5. There is hereby appropriated from the State General 22
Fund to the Surplus Food Assistance Account created by section 3 23
of this act the sum of $5,000,000 to carry out the pro gram 24
established pursuant to section 2 of this act. 25
Sec. 6. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval. 26

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