NUTRITION EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP BENEFITS

(a) The commission shall develop and implement a plan of operation to provide nutrition education and outreach to persons eligible for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits. (b) The plan of operation for education and outreach shall: (1) ensure that low-income consumers are provided with informational materials that include but are not limited to information on: (A) food budgeting for low-income consumers; (B) purchasing and preparing low-cost nutritional meals; (C) basic nutrition and healthy foods; (D) the availability of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; (E) the eligibility requirements for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; and (F) the application procedures for receiving supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; (2) identify a target population for the informational activities, which may include: (A) recipients of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children; (B) families which have children who are eligible for the free or reduced-priced meals programs; (C) recipients of commodity surplus foods; (D) senior citizens attending nutrition sites and participating in nutritional activities; (E) clients of emergency food pantries; (F) farm workers or migrants; and (G) others who may benefit from the information including but not limited to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and working poor families; (3) identify geographical areas, if any, which specifically will be targeted; and (4) ensure that all informational activities are multilingual and available in accessible alternative formats. (c) The commission shall submit the plan of operation to the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture for approval, making the commission eligible for reimbursement for 50 percent of the cost of the informational activities. (d) The commission shall cooperate with other state agencies that currently operate nutrition education programs. (e) The commission shall enlist the assistance of pro bono public relations firms where available.