OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

HB 664 - Establishes a Women, Infants, and Children State Advisory Board - Pennsylvania Key Vote

Timeline

Related Issues

Stage Details

See How Your Politicians Voted

Title: Establishes a Women, Infants, and Children State Advisory Board

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a Women, Infants, and Children Advisory Board.

Highlights:

  • Specifies that the State of Pennsylvania intends to maximize the federal funding made available by the Pennsylvania SNAP WIC program in order to better improve the outcomes for pregnant women, postpartum mothers, and children (Sec. 1). 

  • Specifies that the state shall implement new technology and strategies to increase SNAP WIC participation and remove barriers to said participation (Sec. 1). 

  • Specifies that this act shall be known as the WIC State Advisory Board Act (Sec. 1). 

  • Establishes the Women, Infants, and Children Advisory Board (Sec. 3). 

  • Specifies that the new Women, Infants, and Children board shall advise the department of health on Increasing enrollment into the program, improving the quality of services given by the program, outreach initiatives to the community, technological improvements, and outreach to SNAP participants on which stores take snap and which do not (Sec. 4). 

  • Specifies that the board shall do the following to accomplish its tasks (Sec. 5): 

    • Review aggregate data regarding eligibility; 

    • Review the WIC policy manual; 

    • Advise on best practices used in other states; 

    • Consult with outside organizations;

  • Specifies that the board shall be made of the following members (Sec. 6). 

    • The Secretary of Health or a person designated by the Secretary of Health whom will be chair;

    • The director of the WIC; 

    • Two subject matter experts;

    • Two Pediatric medical professionals; 

    • Two food insecurity advocates;

    • Two maternal advocates;

    • Three WIC participants;

    • Two representatives from WIC-authorized shops; 

    • Three representatives from local WIC agencies; 

    • One breastfeeding expert. 

  • Specifies that the board shall keep minutes of their activities (Sec. 6).  

  • Specifies that the Secretary of Health will choose members of the board for staggered three year terms (Sec. 6). 

  • Specifies that the Secretary of Health, the director of the WIC, and the two subject matter experts do not have voting rights on the board (Sec. 6). 

  • Requires the board to meet 4 times per year on a quarterly basis (Sec. 6). 

  • Specifies that the board shall not receive compensation (Sec. 7). 

  • Requires that board members recuse themselves if there is a conflict of interest present (Sec. 8). 

  • Specifies that this act will go into effect within 60 days of passage (Sec. 9). 

Full Bill Text

Title: Establishes a Women, Infants, and Children State Advisory Board

arrow_upward