California Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Project: report.

Existing federal law establishes the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law establishes a statewide electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system, administered by the State Department of Social Services, for the purpose of providing financial and food assistance benefits, including CalFresh benefits. Existing law establishes the California Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Project and requires the department, in consultation with the Department of Food and Agriculture and specified stakeholders, to include within the EBT system a supplemental benefits mechanism that allows an authorized retailer to deliver and redeem supplemental benefits. Existing law requires the department to submit a report to the Legislature, including the results of an evaluation of the pilot projects, as specified, 9 months after the department has received sufficient data to evaluate the pilot projects, but not later than September 1, 2025. Existing law requires the department to submit a report to the Legislature by March 1, 2026, regarding the transition of the California Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Project to a supplemental benefits program that is fully state managed, without grantee intermediaries, as specified. Existing law specifies that the pilot project is to remain in effect until January 1, 2027, and is repealed as of that date. This bill would instead require the department to submit a single report to the Legislature regarding the transition of the California Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Project to a supplemental benefits program that is fully state managed, without grantee intermediaries, and including the results of an evaluation of the pilot projects, by July 1, 2025.