,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cceg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bg1 #bjbj,mr4 ,brown introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff to enhance ,state efforts to cross-enroll participants to improve nutritional outcomes for pregnant women1 postpartum women1 and young children1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,wic ,enrollment ,collaboration ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,state efforts to enhance cross-enrollment to improve nutritional outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women and young children 7a7 ,in general ,section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7r7 ,state efforts ,to enhance cross-,enrollment ,to improve nutritional outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women and young children 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,eligible woman and child ,the term eligible woman and child means an individual that is any of the following3 7i7 ,a pregnant woman4 7ii7 ,a woman not more than #a year postpartum4 7iii7 ,an infant4 7iv7 ,a child4 7,b7 ,medicaid benefits ,the term ,medicaid benefits means items and services provided under the ,medicaid program4 7,c7 ,medicaid program ,the term ,medicaid program means the program of medical assistance under a ,state plan established under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq474 7,d7 ,special supplemental nutrition program ,the term special supplemental nutrition program means the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children established by this section4 7,e7 ,supplemental nutrition assistance program ,the term supplemental nutrition assistance program means the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq474 7#b7 ,report on cross-enrollment 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than ,april #cj1 #bjbb1 and ,april #cj of each year thereafter1 the ,secretary shall gather the data and conduct the analyses necessary to submit to the ,committees on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry and ,finance of the ,senate and the ,committees on ,agriculture1 ,education and ,labor1 and ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives a report that measures and describes the extent to which eligible women and children receiving benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program or ,medicaid benefits are certified to participate in the special supplemental nutrition program4 7,b7 ,specific measures ,each report under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include1 for each ,state and each category of individual described in clauses 7i7 through 7iv7 of paragraph 7#a77;,a7-- 7i7 the average monthly number of eligible women and children that received benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program in the preceding year2 7ii7 the average monthly number of eligible women and children that received ,medicaid benefits in the preceding year and the income of which was less than the limit described in subsection 7d77#b77;,a77i72 and 7iii7 the percentage of the eligible women and children-- 7,i7 described in clause 7i7 that were certified to receive benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program in the preceding year2 and 7,,ii7 described in clause 7ii7 that were certified to receive benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program in the preceding year4 7,c7 ,cross-enrollment gains ,beginning with the second report submitted under subparagraph 7,a71 each report submitted under that subparagraph shall identify each ,state in which a percentage described in subclause 7,i7 or 7,,ii7 of subparagraph 7,b77iii7 increased by #e percentage points from the previous year4 7,d7 ,best practices ,each report under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include a description of best practices to facilitate certification under the special supplemental nutrition program of eligible women and children that receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program or ,medicaid benefits4 7,e7 ,funding ,of the funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection 7g77#a77;,a71 the ,secretary shall use #b1jjj1jjj to carry out this paragraph1 to remain available until expended1 of which not less than #ejj1jjj shall be used to support ,state provision of data under paragraph 7#g77;,a71 to remain available until expended4 7#c7 ,cross-enrollment plans2 grants 7,a7 ,cross-enrollment plans ,not later than ,april #bj1 #bjbc1 and ,april #cj of each year thereafter1 each ,state shall submit to the ,secretary1 and implement on approval of the ,secretary1 an annual cross-enrollment plan that includes-- 7i7 goals for increasing each percentage described in paragraph 7#b77;,b77iii72 7ii7 measures to be carried out by the ,state to achieve those goals1 including by making improvements or modifications to information systems1 data matching1 or enhancing referrals2 and 7iii7 a timeline for the ,state to implement the measures described in clause 7ii74 7,b7 ,cross-enrollment grants 7i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award competitive grants to ,states 7including ,state agencies that administer the supplemental nutrition assistance program1 the ,medicaid program1 or the special supplemental nutrition program in the ,state7 to implement the cross-enrollment plan described in subparagraph 7,a7 of the ,state or to increase any percentage described in paragraph 7#b77;,b77iii74 7ii7 ,use of funds ,a ,state shall use grant funds awarded under clause 7i7 to pay costs relating to implementing the cross-enrollment plan of the ,state or increasing any percentage described in paragraph 7#b77;,b77iii71 including the cost of-- 7,i7 making technology improvements2 7,,ii7 analyzing data relating to cross-enrollment in the supplemental nutrition assistance program1 the ,medicaid program1 and the special supplemental nutrition program2 7,,iii7 providing training or technical assistance to local agencies2 7,,iv7 sharing information among ,state administrators of the supplemental nutrition assistance program1 the ,medicaid program1 and the special supplemental nutrition program2 7,v7 establishing more robust referrals2 and 7,,vi7 conducting targeted outreach to potential recipients of benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program4 7iii7 ,report ,not later than ,december #ca1 #bjbd1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committees on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry and ,finance of the ,senate and the ,committees on ,agriculture1 ,education and ,labor1 and ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives a report that describes the results of the use of grant funds under this subparagraph4 7iv7 ,funding ,of the funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection 7g77#a77;,a7 for fiscal year #bjba1 the ,secretary shall use #ae1jjj1jjj to carry out this subparagraph1 to remain available until expended1 of which not more than #aj percent shall be used for administrative costs4 7v7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary shall provide1 on request1 technical assistance to a ,state or ,state agency that seeks to apply for a grant described in clause 7i74 7#d7 ,technical and other assistance 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall provide technical or training assistance to a ,state or ,state agency1 as applicable1 receiving a grant under paragraph 7#c77;,b71 and other ,states1 as appropriate1 to increase any percentage described in paragraph 7#b77;,b77iii74 7,b7 ,other assistance ,the ,secretary may-- 7i7 disseminate to ,states and relevant ,state agencies the best practices described in paragraph 7#b77;,d72 7ii7 assess the effectiveness of the efforts of the ,state or ,state agency to increase the percentage described in subparagraph 7,a72 7iii7 assist ,state agencies in developing a cross-enrollment plan described in paragraph 7#c77;,a72 and 7iv7 conduct any other activity to facilitate certification under the special supplemental nutrition program of eligible women and children that receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program or ,medicaid benefits1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,c7 ,funding ,of the funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection 7g77#a77;,a71 the ,secretary shall use #b1jjj1jjj to carry out this paragraph1 to remain available until expended4 7#e7 ,referrals of eligible women and children 7,a7 ,in general ,each ,state that administers the supplemental nutrition assistance program or ,medicaid program shall-- 7i7 identify individuals who-- 7,i7 7aa7 apply or reapply for benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program or ,medicaid benefits1 as applicable2 and 7bb7 are certified to receive benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program at the time of application or reapplication2 and 7,,ii7 7aa7 apply or reapply for benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program or ,medicaid benefits1 as applicable2 and 7bb7 are not certified to receive benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program at the time of application or reapplication under subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 develop a policy to refer to the special supplemental nutrition program all eligible women and children identified under clause 7i77,,ii74 7,b7 ,report ,not later than ,december #ca1 #bjba1 and each year thereafter1 each ,state described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall report to the ,secretary-- 7i7 the number of individuals identified under subclauses 7,i7 and 7,,ii7 of subparagraph 7,a77i72 and 7ii7 the number and type of referrals made to the special supplemental nutrition program under a policy developed under subparagraph 7,a77ii74 7#f7 ,study on the importance of meeting the nutritional needs of pregnant women and young children 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than ,december #ca1 #bjba1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate and the ,committees on ,agriculture and ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives a report that describes-- 7i7 the importance of adequate and sound nutrition during pregnancy1 the postpartum period1 and early childhood to birth outcomes1 child development1 ongoing health1 and economic stability2 7ii7 the manner in which the special supplemental nutrition program works in combination with the supplemental nutrition assistance program and the ,medicaid program to support adequate and sound nutrition for eligible women and children that receive benefits under those programs2 7iii7 research findings on the short- and long-term outcomes associated with receiving benefits under the programs described in clause 7ii7 during pregnancy and early childhood years2 and 7iv7 recommendations on how the supplemental nutrition assistance program1 the ,medicaid program1 and the special supplemental nutrition program can more effectively ensure that recipients of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program or ,medicaid benefits that are also eligible for benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program can be certified more expeditiously during the critical developmental periods of pregnancy and early childhood4 7,b7 ,funding ,of the funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection 7g77#a77;,a7 for fiscal year #bjba1 the ,secretary shall use #b1jjj1jjj to carry out this paragraph1 to remain available until expended4 7#g7 ,data from ,states 7,a7 ,in general ,each ,state shall provide to the ,secretary any data necessary to conduct the analyses for each report and study required under this subsection4 7,b7 ,confidentiality ,all data provided to the ,secretary under subparagraph 7,a7 shall be-- 7i7 used only to enroll individuals in the special supplemental nutrition program2 and 7ii7 subject to the confidentiality provisions described in section #bdf4bf7;d7 of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations74 7,c7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary shall provide1 on request1 technical or training assistance to a ,state relating to data governance of information required to be provided to the ,secretary under subparagraph 7,a74 4 7b7 ,food and nutrition act ,section #aa of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbj7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7y7 ,state efforts ,to enhance cross-,enrollment ,to improve the nutritional status of pregnant and postpartum women and young children ,a ,state agency shall-- 7#a7 7,a7 identify women and children applying or reapplying for benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under this ,act who are certified to receive benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children established by section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf72 7,b7 develop a policy to refer to the special supplemental nutrition program described in subparagraph 7,a7 women and children applying or reapplying for benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under this ,act who are eligible but not certified to receive benefits under that special supplemental nutrition program2 and 7,c7 not later than ,december #ca1 #bjba1 and each year thereafter1 report to the ,secretary the number and type of referrals made under the policy developed under subparagraph 7,b72 7#b7 coordinate with a ,state agency that administers the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children established by section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf7 to obtain cross-enrollment grants under subsection 7r77#c77;,b7 of that section2 and 7#c7 provide to the ,secretary the data necessary to conduct the analyses for each report and study required under subsection 7r7 of section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf74 4 7c7 ,social ,security ,act ,section #aijb7;a77#aa77;,c7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif;a7a77#aa77;,c77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking title and all that follows through with and inserting title with2 and 7#b7 by inserting after #aiff the following3 81 including-- 7i7 providing information and education on pediatric vaccinations and the delivery of immunization services2 7ii7 7,i7 identifying women and children applying or reapplying for benefits under this title who are certified to receive benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children established by section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf72 7,,ii7 developing a policy to refer to the special supplemental nutrition program described in subclause 7,i7 women and children applying or reapplying for benefits under this title who are eligible but not certified to receive benefits under that special supplemental nutrition program2 and 7,,iii7 not later than ,december #ca1 #bjba1 and each year thereafter1 reporting to the ,secretary the number and type of referrals made under the policy developed under subclause 7,,ii72 7iii7 obtaining cross-enrollment grants under subsection 7r77#c77;,b7 of section #ag of that ,act2 and 7iv7 providing to the ,secretary of ,agriculture the data necessary to conduct the analyses for each report and study required under subsection 7r7 of that section 4