WOMEN'S, INFANTS AND CHILDREN PROGRAM

M.G.L. pt. Part I, tit. Title XVI, ch. c. 111I

in effect

M.G.L. c. 111I, § 1 WIC program; administration and funding

c. 111I, § 1. WIC program; administration and funding Section 1. The department of public health, in this chapter called the department, shall administer a program to be called the WIC program, funded by the commonwealth and the United States department of agriculture or other successor federal agency authorized to fund this program, to provide supplemental foods and nutrition education to pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants and young children. The WIC program shall be administered in a manner consistent with applicable federal law (forty-two United States Code section one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, as amended) and the provisions of this chapter. To the extent that the provisions of this chapter conflict with the applicable federal law and regulations, the program shall be administered in a manner consistent with federal law.

M.G.L. c. 111I, § 2 Intent of program; all those eligible defined; allocation of funds

c. 111I, § 2. Intent of program; all those eligible defined; allocation of funds Section 2. The WIC program shall serve all those eligible under the Federal WIC program eligibility standards. It is the intent of this program that by July first, nineteen hundred and ninety-four all of those eligible for the program shall be served. The words all those eligible shall mean serving eighty-five percent of all federally eligible women, infants and children. Federal and state funds appropriated to implement this section shall be allocated to expand program operations in areas most in need of supplemental foods as determined by a methodology which shall be included in the state plan, and to fund related administrative services necessary for expansion. It is the intent of this section that state funds provided under this act will supplement federal funds to enable all those eligible as defined above to be served through the WIC program.

M.G.L. c. 111I, § 3 Director; duties; public hearing; notice

c. 111I, § 3. Director; duties; public hearing; notice Section 3. The director of the WIC program, in this chapter called the director, shall ensure that a state plan is developed annually as required by federal law. In so doing, the director shall ensure that a public hearing is held not less than twenty-one days after a draft state plan is made available for review to members of the public and not less than thirty days before a final state plan must be submitted to the federal government. Notice of the time and place of said public hearing, and of the availability for review of the draft state plan, shall be provided to each person who has previously requested the receipt of such notices, as well as to individuals and organizations known to the department to have an interest in issues regarding maternal and child health care and child hunger. Notice to the above-described individuals and organizations shall be in addition to publication of such notices in newspapers of general circulation throughout the state.

M.G.L. c. 111I, § 4 Advisory board; membership; compensation

c. 111I, § 4. Advisory board; membership; compensation Section 4. An advisory board shall be established by the director, the purpose of which shall be to advise the director on all policies relating to the WIC program. The advisory board shall be composed of at least sixteen individuals each of whom shall serve a term of two years. Members of the advisory board shall be selected by the director, subject to the following requirements: four members of the advisory board shall be current or former WIC program participants chosen from geographically diverse parts of the state; six members of the advisory board shall be individuals who provide services or goods to WIC program participants, such as medical professionals, nurse practitioners, and food vendors; six members of the advisory board shall be representatives of the general court, the Massachusetts nutrition board or family health services advisory council, the department of early education and care, the department of public welfare, the WIC directors association, the nutritionists association and a non-profit hunger relief organization. Members of the advisory board shall not be compensated. Necessary expenses incurred by members of the advisory board to carry out their duties as such shall be reimbursed by the WIC program, and adequate staff shall be provided to the advisory board so that it can perform its functions effectively.

M.G.L. c. 111I, § 5 Determination of financial eligibility; food packages; delivery; statement of rights and obligations

c. 111I, § 5. Determination of financial eligibility; food packages; delivery; statement of rights and obligations Section 5. In determining the financial eligibility of an applicant for WIC benefits, only such income as is available for the support and maintenance of the applicant shall be counted. A monthly food package shall be provided to each participant and shall be prescribed by a competent professional authority at the local WIC program based solely on the participant's dietary needs. Such competent professional authorities shall be allowed to choose from the full range of types and amounts of food authorized by federal rules in developing food packages for program participants. Each local WIC agency shall, in accordance with guidelines set forth in the state plan, mail or otherwise deliver food instruments to an individual on the basis of difficulties of the participant and his or her proxy in obtaining the food instruments, for reasons such as illness, imminent childbirth, or difficulty of access to the local agency. All participants shall receive a written statement of their rights and obligations as participants, including all of the rights and obligations set forth in this chapter, at the time they are certified, and such statement shall be written in language calculated to be understood by the average participant.

M.G.L. c. 111I, § 6 Availability of funds for local agency outreach activities

c. 111I, § 6. Availability of funds for local agency outreach activities Section 6. The director shall ensure that adequate funds are available to each local WIC agency to perform outreach activities designed to identify and encourage the participation of individuals who are eligible to participate.

M.G.L. c. 111I, § 7 Annual appropriation of funds

c. 111I, § 7. Annual appropriation of funds Section 7. Adequate funds to implement this chapter shall be appropriated on an annual basis.

Source: Massachusetts General Court (malegislature.gov)URL: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVI/Chapter111IFetched: 10/20/2026