Summer nutrition assistance for children.

25LSO-0665
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0665
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0341

Summer nutrition assistance for children.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Larsen, L and Chestek

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to public assistance and social services; directing participation in the federal summer electronic benefit transfer program for children; specifying duties of the department of family services and the department of education; authorizing rulemaking; authorizing positions; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 42
‑
2
‑
601 and 42
‑
2
‑
602 are created to read:

ARTICLE 6
SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER

PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN

42
‑
2
‑
601.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this article:

(i)

"Electronic benefit transfer" means the method the state issues benefits described in W.S. 42
‑
2
‑
102(a)(iii) for public welfare benefits;

(ii)

"Summer EBT program" means the summer electronic benefit transfer program for children under 42 U.S.C. § 1762.

42
‑
2
‑
602.

Summer EBT program; administration and management plan; rulemaking.

(a)

The department shall, in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 1762, administer the summer EBT

benefit program to provide nutrition assistance to eligible households to ensure continued access to food for each eligible

child when school is not in session for the summer. The department shall issue benefits to qualifying households under the summer EBT program.

(b)

The department shall develop an administration and management plan for participation in the summer EBT benefit program as required in 42 U.S.C. § 1762 for each summer of participation.

The department shall submit the plans to the United States secretary of agriculture by the deadlines established by the secretary.

(c)

The department of education shall provide information to the department concerning children eligible for participation in the free and reduced price lunch program under the national school lunch program established by 42 U.S.C. § 1751 et seq. for purposes of administering the summer EBT program.

(d)

The department shall adopt rules and regulations as necessary to implement this section.

Section 2
.

W.S. 42
‑
2
‑
102(a)(vii) by creating a new subparagraph (J) is amended to read:

42
‑
2
‑
102.

Definitions.

(a)

Except as otherwise specifically provided, as used in this article:

(vii)

"Public welfare benefit" means financial assistance provided to eligible persons in the form of a performance payment, vendor payment, supplemental nutrition assistance program benefit, electronic benefit transfer or cash.

These benefits may be received from several state or federal welfare programs including:

(J)

Summer electronic benefit transfer program for children (summer EBT program).

Section 3
.

(a)

The department of family services is authorized up to two (2) temporary full
‑
time positions and one (1) at
‑
will employee contract position for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2027 for purposes of this act. It is the intent of the legislature that the department of family services request the positions necessary for ongoing implementation of the summer EBT program for children created in section 1 of this act as an exception request in its supplemental budget request for the second fiscal year of the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

(b)

There is appropriated one million one hundred forty thousand one hundred ninety
‑
three dollars ($1,140,193.00) from the general fund to the department of family services for the state's share of administrative costs related to the summer electronic benefit transfer program created in section 1 of this act. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2027.

This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2027.

It is the intent of the legislature that amounts necessary for ongoing implementation of the summer EBT program for children created in section 1 of this act be included as an exception request in the department of family service's supplemental budget request for the second year of the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

(c)

There is appropriated one million one hundred forty thousand one hundred ninety
‑
four dollars ($1,140,194.00) federal funds for the summer EBT program created in section 1 of this act.

Section 4.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
HB0341