,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cgcf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ad1 #bjbj,mr4 ,casey 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 and ,ms4 ,smith7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to increase access to food delivery under the supplemental nutrition assistance program to address the ,coronavirus ,disease #bjai1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,increasing ,access to ,,snap ,delivery ,during ,,covid-#ai ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,food delivery under supplemental nutrition assistance program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,employee ,the term employee has the meaning given the term in section #c of the ,fair ,labor ,standards ,act of #aich 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bjc74 7#b7 ,program ,the term program means the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq474 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7b7 ,program modifications 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 notify authorized program retailers of existing opportunities through which retailers can deliver food to program participants1 including by-- 7i7 allowing an ,,ebt card 7as defined in section #c of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjab77 to be swiped on delivery of food to the home 7with a mobile device72 and 7ii7 preparing food for pick-up2 7,b7 authorize public-private partnerships between the ,department of ,agriculture1 authorized program retailers1 and community-based organizations to support food delivery1 including through the use of private funds2 7,c7 in the case of an authorized program retailer that is unable to cover the cost of food delivery for program participants1 use funds made available under paragraph 7#c77;,b7 to support food delivery for program participants who are seniors1 immunocompromised individuals1 or other individuals who are unable to travel safely to an authorized program retailer1 in accordance with paragraph 7#c77;,a72 and 7,d7 require each ,state to submit to the ,secretary a ,state plan that describes how the ,state will-- 7i7 work with authorized program retailers and other community-based partners to establish a process for food delivery for program participants2 7ii7 administer the reimbursements described in paragraph 7#c77;,a77i71 including timing1 eligibility1 and distribution processes2 and 7iii7 ensure that authorized program retailers that are reimbursed for delivery costs under paragraph 7#c77;,a77i7 adhere to the requirements described in paragraph 7#c77;,a77ii74 7#b7 ,state plans ,not later than #aj days after the date on which the ,secretary receives a ,state plan under paragraph 7#a77;,d71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 approve or deny the ,state plan2 and 7,b7 make publicly available on the website of the ,department of ,agriculture-- 7i7 the ,state plan2 7ii7 the determination made under subparagraph 7,a7 with respect to that plan2 and 7iii7 any guidance issued to the ,state with respect to that plan4 7#c7 ,food delivery 7,a7 ,reimbursement of retailers 7i7 ,in general ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 a ,state agency shall reimburse an authorized program retailer described in paragraph 7#a77;,c7 for the cost of food delivery to program participants described in that paragraph if-- 7,i7 the authorized program retailer is eligible for reimbursement under clause 7ii72 and 7,,ii7 the majority of the food items delivered by the retailer are eligible for redemption using benefits under the program4 7ii7 ,eligibility ,an authorized program retailer described in paragraph 7#a77;,c7 is eligible for reimbursement for the cost of food delivery to program participants described in that paragraph if-- 7,i7 that food delivery is performed by employees of the retailer or employees of an entity contracted by the retailer to perform deliveries2 7,,ii7 before any employee described in subclause 7,i7 begins making that food delivery1 that employee receives employer-provided health and safety training that reflects the most recent guidelines of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention and the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,administration relating to worker safety and health during the ,coronavirus ,disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai7 pandemic2 7,,iii7 the retailer remains neutral in any union organizing effort that occurs during the period in which deliveries described in paragraph 7#a77;,c7 are made2 and 7,,iv7 all employees described in subclause 7,i7 performing deliveries are paid at a rate that is not less than the greater of-- 7aa7 the minimum wage rate established under section #f7;a77#a7 of the ,fair ,labor ,standards ,act of #aich 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bjf7;a77#a772 and 7bb7 the minimum wage rate established by the applicable ,state or locality in which the employee works4 7iii7 ,covered costs 7,i7 ,in general ,reimbursable costs under clause 7i7 include costs associated with-- 7aa7 purchasing point-of-sale devices or receiving technical assistance relating to point-of-sale devices2 and 7bb7 purchasing or reimbursing employees for personal protective equipment used during food delivery4 7,,ii7 ,,ppe costs ,an authorized program retailer shall use not more than #aj percent of amounts received under clause 7i7 to pay for the costs described in subclause 7,i77bb74 7iv7 ,maximum reimbursement per delivery ,the maximum amount of reimbursement under clause 7i7 for a food delivery fee shall be #aj per delivery4 7,b7 ,funding 7i7 ,in general ,there is appropriated to the ,secretary1 out of funds of the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 #ejj1jjj1jjj to cover the cost of food delivery described in paragraph 7#a77;,c71 to be distributed among the ,states to fund reimbursements by ,states under subparagraph 7,a77i74 7ii7 ,emergency requirement ,the amount made available under clause 7i7 is designated by the ,congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section #bea7;b77#b77;,a77i7 of the ,balanced ,budget and ,emergency ,deficit ,control ,act of #aihe 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #ija7;b77#b77;,a77i774 7iii7 ,authorization of appropriations ,in addition to the amount appropriated under clause 7i71 there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary such sums as are necessary to cover the cost of food delivery under paragraph 7#a77;,c74 7#d7 ,termination of authority 7,a7 ,in general ,the authority of the ,secretary to carry out paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#c7 with respect to each ,state shall terminate on the later of-- 7i7 the date on which the national emergency declared by the ,president under the ,national ,emergencies ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq47 with respect to the ,coronavirus ,disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai7 is terminated2 and 7ii7 the date on which the ,state emergency declared in that ,state with respect to the ,coronavirus ,disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai7 is terminated4 7,b7 ,return of funds ,the ,secretary shall return to the ,treasury any funds appropriated under paragraph 7#c77;,b77i7 that have not been used or obligated by the date described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#e7 ,report ,not later than #c months after the date on which the authority of the ,secretary is terminated under paragraph 7#d71 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives a report that describes-- 7,a7 the use of that authority to address food security needs of affected populations during the national emergency described in subparagraph 7,a77i7 of that paragraph2 7,b7 the authorized program retailers that were reimbursed under paragraph 7#c77;,a72 7,c7 any complications or difficulties experienced by ,states in administering reimbursements under paragraph 7#c77;,a72 and 7,d7 recommendations for changes to the authority of the ,secretary under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq47 to assist the ,secretary1 ,states1 and units of local government to prepare plans for food delivery to program recipients in future health emergencies4