Electronic benefit transfers

(a)

In general

Section 7(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(h)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1)— (A)by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) as subparagraphs (B) through (E), respectively; (B)by inserting before subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated) the following:

(A)

Definitions

In this subsection: (i)

Community-supported agriculture program

The term community-supported agriculture program or CSA means a farm business or a group of agricultural producers that form a partnership with consumers through which consumers buy a subscription for farm products in advance and the farm business or group of agricultural producers commits to supplying and delivering the products to a common distribution point or directly to the consumers. (ii)

Farmers market

The term farmers market means a regularly scheduled assembly of 2 or more agricultural producers for the direct sale of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables and other staple foods to consumers. (iii)

Farm stand; roadside stand

(I)

In general

The terms farm stand and roadside stand mean a retail outlet for the direct sale of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables and other staple foods in rural or urban areas. (II)

Inclusion

The terms farm stand and roadside stand may include a single stall in a farmers market. (iv)

Green cart

The term green cart means a mobile retail food vendor who sells fresh fruits and vegetables on a regular basis from an unmotorized cart. (v)

Route vendor

(I)

In general

The term route vendor means a mobile retail food vendor who sells unprepared food from a vehicle directly to consumers along a scheduled route or by arranged delivery. (II)

Inclusion

The term route vendor includes vendors who provide food services in disaster or other emergency situations. (vi)

Wireless retailer

The term wireless retailer includes— (I)a farmers market; (II)a farm stand; (III)a green cart; (IV)a route vendor; (V)an entity operating a community-supported agriculture program; and (VI)an individual farmer affiliated with an entity described in subclauses (I) through (V).

;

(C)in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting subparagraph (B); (D)in clause (i) of subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), by inserting , including wireless technology before the semicolon at the end; and (E)by adding at the end the following:

(F)

State flexibility for wireless ebt systems

Subject to paragraph (2), a State agency may— (i)procure and implement any wireless electronic benefit transfer system that the State agency considers to be appropriate and that meets all industry security standards; and (ii)use appropriate wireless technology available to the State agency in implementing the wireless electronic benefit transfer system, including smart phone technology and other technologies, so long as the technologies meet all industry security standards.

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(2)in paragraph (2)— (A)in subparagraph (G), by striking and at the end; (B)in subparagraph (H), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C)by adding at the end the following:

(I)a requirement that, for purposes of program participation, State agencies and the Food and Nutrition Service treat wireless retailers in the same manner as retail food stores that use wired electronic benefit transfer equipment by providing the retail food stores with wireless electronic benefit transfer equipment that ensures immediate benefit account verification; (J)a system for wireless retail food stores to receive funds in an amount not exceeding the cost of a wireless point-of-sale terminal if alternative wireless technology is used; and (K)the potential for entering into a contract or memoranda of understanding with a statewide nonprofit organization, such as a statewide farmers market association, to assist the State agency by providing outreach, training, and administration in wireless electronic benefit transfer equipment deployment at multiple-vendor farmers markets, particularly in cases in which scrip (such as farmers market tokens) is used to simplify program participation by agricultural producers and vendors.

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(3)in paragraph (3)(B)— (A)in clause (i), by striking and at the end; (B)in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (C)by adding at the end the following:

(iii)in the case of wireless retailers, wireless electronic benefit and wireless EBT connection services are available.

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(4)in paragraph (5), by inserting before the period at the end , including wireless electronic benefit systems that enable all wireless retailers to provide for improved access to nutritious foods in areas lacking such access, and in disaster-recovery situations; (5)by redesignating the second paragraph (12) (relating to interchange fees) as paragraph (13); and (6)by adding at the end the following:

(14)

Non-ebt transactions

Wireless EBT equipment provided to an authorized retailer may be used for non-EBT transactions (such as credit and debit card transactions) only if the retailer bears all costs associated with those non-EBT transactions.

(b)

Conforming amendments

Section 16(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(a)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (2), by inserting , including wireless access fees after the State; (2)in paragraph (7), by striking and at the end; and (3)by striking : Provided, That the and inserting , and (9) outreach and training for farmers markets and other vendors defined in section 7(h)(1)(A) in wireless electronic benefit transfer equipment deployment and operations, particularly in cases in which scrip (such as farmers market tokens) is used to facilitate and simplify program participation by agricultural producers and vendors. The.