00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 380                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to the selection by the Department of Health and Social Services of                                    
02 vendors under the federal Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and                                     
03 Children."                                                                                                              
04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
05    * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section                          
06 to read:                                                                                                                
07       WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN PROGRAM PLAN AMENDMENT. The                                                          
08 Department of Health and Social Services shall immediately apply to the United States                                   
09 Department of Agriculture for an amendment to the state plan for the Special Supplemental                               
10 Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children under 42 U.S.C. 1786 to provide for a                                     
11 hardship exemption to vendor selection and approval criteria. The hardship exemption                                    
12 application must seek authorization to select and approve a vendor for participation in the                             
13 Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children if the vendor serves at                              
14 least 35 recipients under the program who are of a specific nationality, ethnicity, religion, or                        

01 culture and are likely to encounter language, food selection, or other cultural barriers when                           
02 purchasing from another vendor.