LANSING – Food assistance recipients would be able to use their EBT Bridge card to buy meals from restaurants under a new proposal.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Bert Johnson, D-Detroit, would allow Bridge cards to be used at approved restaurants the same way they are used at grocery stores.

The EBT (electronic benefits transfer) Bridge card is a debit card that replaced paper food stamps.  Recipients receive the same amount of monthly benefits as they did with paper food stamps, deposited directly to their accounts.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service figures show that about 1.3 million Michigan residents received food assistance benefits in 2006.

Rep. Fred Miller, D-Mount Clemens, said he is co-sponsoring the bill because it addresses the reality and needs of today’s working families.

Families, especially those headed by a single mother or a parent working more than one job, may not have time to prepare healthy meals at home, he said.

“It will give families the flexibility they need,” said Miller.  “I will help families to balance getting nutrition with accessibility.”

Rep. Andy Coulouris, D-Saginaw, is also co-sponsoring the bill.

The Agriculture Department has guidelines to determine what restaurants can participate in the food assistance program.  The guidelines include availability of healthy choices and offering some meals at a discounted price.

Andy Deloney, director of public affairs for the Michigan Restaurant Association, says his group has no official position on the bill.  Neither does the Department of Human Services, according to communication director Maureen Sorbet.

And that’s fine by Johnson’s chief of staff, Eric Davis, who calls the bill a “proposal in progress” and says the sponsors aren’t trying to rush it through the Legislature yet.  The bill is pending in the House Families and Children’s Services Committee.

“We really just wanted to get this bill out there and get some attention to the issue,” said Davis.  “We know it still needs a lot of work.”

States have the option of participating, and currently eight states, including Michigan, offer the approved restaurant option for recipients who are blind, disabled, homeless or 60 years or older, Davis said.

Four restaurants are now participating in the program, including three Subway restaurants and Gillies Coney Island Inc, all in Southeast Michigan: Mount Morris, Detroit, Inkster and Taylor.

Davis wants the bill to extend that restaurant option to other food assistance recipients.  If the proposal becomes law, Michigan would be the first state to offer the restaurant option to all food assistance recipients.

“The main concept is to allow recipients an additional healthy option for feeding their families,” said Davis.  “It’s better than running to the store and buying a bag of chips.”