Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2021” or the “MODERN WIC Act of 2021”.
More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2021
A BILL
To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to permit video or telephone certifications under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Presence at certification
In general— Section 17(d)(3)(C) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(C)) is amended—
in the subparagraph heading, by striking “Physical presence” and inserting “Presence”;
in clause (i), by striking “physically present at each certification or recertification determination” and inserting “present at each certification or recertification, either in person or through video technology permitting 2-way, real-time interactive communications,”; and
in clause (ii)—
in subclause (I), in the matter preceding item (aa), by striking “an infant or child” and inserting “any eligible individual”;
by redesignating subclauses (I) through (III) as subclauses (II) through (IV), respectively; and
by inserting before subclause (II) (as so redesignated) the following:
“(I) any eligible individual—
“(aa) who completes the certification process through a telephone appointment or other remote technology; and
“(bb) for whom all necessary certification information is obtained not more than 90 days before or after the certification appointment;”
Technical amendment— Section 17(d)(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)) is amended by conforming the margin of subparagraph (B) to the margin of subparagraph (C).
Sec. 3 Remote benefit issuance
In general— Section 17(f)(6)(B) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(f)(6)(B)) is amended—
in the third sentence—
by striking “vouchers by mail” and inserting “food instruments”; and
by striking “The Secretary” and inserting the following:
“(iii) Disapproval of State plan—The Secretary”
in the second sentence—
by striking “vouchers by mail in its plan” and inserting “food instruments by mail, remote issuance, or other means in the State plan”; and
by striking “The State” and inserting the following:
“(ii) State plan—The State”
by striking “(B) State agencies” and all that follows through “to obtain vouchers.” and inserting the following:
“(B) Delivery of vouchers
“(i) In general—State agencies may provide for the delivery of food instruments, including electronic benefit transfer cards, to any participant through means that do not require the participant to travel to the local agency to obtain food instruments, such as through mailing or remote issuance.”
Regulations— The Secretary shall revise section 246.12(r) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, by striking paragraph (4).
Sec. 4 Annual investment in WIC technologies
Section 17(h) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)) is amended—
in paragraph (2)(B)—
by striking clause (ii); and
by striking the subparagraph designation and all that follows through “clause (ii) and” and inserting the following:
“(B) Allocation for nutrition services and administration—Except as provided in”
in paragraph (10)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “2010 through 2015” and inserting “2023 through 2028”; and
in subparagraph (B), by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following:
“(ii) $60,000,000 shall be used to establish, develop, improve, replace, or administer technology platforms, including management information systems, that enhance program services, access to the program, or redemption of benefits, of which up to $5,000,000 may be used for Federal administrative costs; and”
Sec. 5 Report to Congress
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report on the use of remote technologies under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) (referred to in this section as the “program”).
Content of report— The report submitted under subsection (a) shall include a description of—
the use of remote technologies and other digital tools, including video, telephone, and online platforms—
to certify eligible individuals for program services; and
to provide nutrition education and breastfeeding support to program participants;
the impact of remote technologies, including video, telephone, and online platforms, on certifications, appointments, and participant satisfaction under the program; and
best practices—
to certify program participants for program services using remote technologies;
to incorporate the use of digital tools into the program certification process;
to integrate nutrition education and breastfeeding support services for program participants into remote technologies and platforms; and
to securely manage program participant data.