(a)  It is the intent of the Legislature in adding this section to authorize the establishment of a program designed to implement the federal WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-314), which is designed to accomplish the following:

(1)  Provide resources to persons who are nutritionally at risk, in the form of fresh, high-quality agricultural products from certified farmers’ markets.

(2)  Expand the awareness and use of certified farmers’ markets and increase sales at those markets.

(b)  The department may establish a program designed to implement the federal WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Act of 1992.

(c)  If the program is established, the department shall develop criteria to permit any producer authorized by the department to participate in the program to sell fresh nutritious foods to recipients in exchange for nutrition coupons.

(d)  If the program is established, the department shall authorize local agencies to distribute nutrition coupons to all recipients, as defined by subdivision (c) of Section 123285 of the Health and Safety Code.

(e)  If the program is established, the department shall design the nutrition coupon issuance process to ensure that nutrition coupons are bearer-only, nonnegotiable, and nontransferable by the recipient and that they may be redeemed by recipients only to purchase fresh produce and redeemed for reimbursement only by authorized producers.

(f)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the program established by this section to implement the federal WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-314) be funded 70 percent by federal funds and 30 percent by private or other funds, as specified by the federal act.

(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 294, Sec. 26. Effective August 18, 1997.)