§2.Demonstration program to test initiatives to support low income households in accessing hygiene materials
This section establishes a demonstration program, to be conducted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services through the Office of Family Assistance, to test innovative uses of funds and outcomes-oriented benchmarks for initiatives improving low-income households' access to hygiene materials (i.e., soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, shampoo, diapers, baby wipes, postpartum pads, antibacterial hand soap, laundry detergent, dish soap, and other products determined by the Secretary).
The Secretary must award competitive grants to eligible entities (i.e., states, Indian tribes, or tribal organizations, as defined in section 419 of the Social Security Act), prioritizing applicants based on (1) initiative design strength, (2) population served, (3) partnerships with basic needs banks, (4) evaluation readiness, (5) cost-effectiveness, (6) past performance administering Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, and (7) geographic diversity. Grantees may use funds solely to provide hygiene materials to low-income households, with no more than 15% for administrative expenses, and must report to the Secretary on geographic area served, families served, materials distributed, and distribution frequency; grant applications must be published on the HHS website.
The section appropriates $25 million for the first fiscal year after the effective date (one year after enactment), $30 million for each of the second and third fiscal years, and $32.5 million for each of the fourth and fifth fiscal years. Before the fifth such fiscal year, the Secretary must report to Congress an evaluation of the program and a recommendation on large-scale implementation feasibility.