Backup_ATCFPB_COA Food Policy_Updates_2021-04-05 — original pdf

Backup

City of Austin Food Policy Updates FOOD POLICY MANAGER CITY OF AUSTIN Food Policy State Bill Tracking •STATE - OOS 87th TX Legislative Tracking •Elimination of SNAP Asset Test • HB 1230 (Rep Ortega) completely eliminates the SNAP vehicle asset test • Rep. Ortega will put out a committee substitute to raises the vehicle asset limit to $25,000 per vehicle and index that value to inflation. •SNAP eligibility: •Restrictive SNAP bills: • • • • • • HB 1353 (Rep Ortega) Relating to continued household eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits on the ineligibility of the head of household for failure to comply with certain work requirements. HB 2126: (Rep Walle) expands SNAP access for college students HB 1211 (Rep Minjarez) eliminates the asset test when the state is designated under disaster declaration which would create serious administrative difficulties and could harm individuals by removing them from the program before their economic situation has improved HB 343 (Rep Caine) creates restrictions on what SNAP recipients can purchase HB 319 (Rep Springer) prohibits waiving work requirements for any SNAP recipient at any time SB 866 (Senator Creighton) would require a photo ID on all EBT cards - legislation that has been introduced in the past in TX to ‘reduce fraud’ but will actually create new barriers to applying for SNAP and increase the cost to the state Winter Weather Disaster Response - Uri Emergency Operation Center - Unmeet Needs Committee - After Action Report - Resolution 67 - The City Council creates the Winter Storm Uri Emergency Response Task Force under section 2-1-2(E) of the City Code for the purpose of holding open public listening sessions during which individuals and organizational representatives can share information, experiences, and recommendations related to the winter storm and resulting crises and to develop recommendations based on these sessions. City Council March 25th Resolution Response Resolution 066 – COVID Response ◦ Increasing agriculture and nutrition programs for individuals living in areas with limited access to grocery stores. This shall include a staff analysis determining various contracting mechanisms and options to achieve emergency food distribution to those negatively impacted by COVID-19, which could also be activated during a natural disaster; ◦ The City Manager is directed to report back to Council no later than April 16, 2021 regarding identified funding and methods for implementing or continuing the listed programs related to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the status of educational efforts with targeted employers. Resolution 111 - American Rescue Plan ◦ Austin and Travis County have other priority challenges including early childhood care and education, workforce development and work programs, and food insecurity that could also benefit from significant and material investment of a scale that would not be available absent this ARP opportunity and for which the ARP can provide long-term capacity building; ◦ Present to the City Council a proposed strategic framework for spending the ARP funding, with initial recommendations no later than April 12, 2021, that focuses to the greatest extent possible on our key priority(ies) and challenge(s), and those investments should be deployed in a manner that allows for the greatest transformational and generational advances.