The EBT AIX Transformation Project is a hardware and operating system upgrade that will give HHSC's (Health, Human Services Commission) platform higher capabilities for transaction processing.  Currently, the system's capacity is stretched when there are significant increases in transaction processing, such as we've experienced over the last few months.  HHSC received approval from FNS to move forward with the project on April 30, 2009.  Originally, HHSC had planned to move into the new data center in April 2009, but the cutover date has been moved out to address issues that were found in testing the new application and due to timing issues. HHSC has determined that the "go live" date for the new Texas EBT system will need to be moved to a weekend after the benefit issuance cycle in July or in August.  As soon as the new "go live" date has been set, notification will be issued. HHSC is committed to making this cut over as smooth and successful as possible for all Texas EBT clients and stakeholders.  The agency appreciates your understanding as we work through the challenges of this major software and data center transformation project.
                                                                                             
Thank you for your support of this important project.  Please contact John Wilson (john.wilson@hhsc.state.tx.us or 512-206-5368) or Christine Ziller (christine.ziller@hhsc.state.tx.us  or 512-206-5102) if you have questions or comments about this schedule change. TRA will continue to monitor the transition process.

Effective August 1, 2010, TX WIC is going to allow WIC participants to choose select brands of canned beans as an alternative to the purchases of peanut butter or dry beans. A Vendor Flash will be sent out the week of June 18th with complete details. We will also post the information on the TRA web site as soon as it is available. This change is a continuing effort by TX WIC to address improving rates of redemption in key categories.
 
Canned beans will not be available to children under the age of two. The prescription will state: "For WIC ladies and children two years or older, participants will have their choice from the three types of Dried Beans, Canned Beans, or Peanut Butter."

Through the support and participation of TRA member companies (Albertsons, Brookshire Brothers, Brookshire Grocery, Gerland's, HEB, Kroger, Randalls/Tom Thumb, Target, Wal-Mart and United Supermarkets) an eWIC Symposium was held in Dallas TX on June 2-3.

This event was the first "By Retailers; For Retailers" technology event designed to educate Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) decision-makers, federal and state government and Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) representatives, and EBT decision-influencers, consultants, authorized grocers and other stakeholders, about how online and offline technologies can improve food delivery to participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). 

Over two days, attendees (170 +) were given an unprecedented opportunity to experience first-hand how electronic cash register and point of sale (ECR/POS) systems can streamline WIC food delivery and improve the WIC shopping experience by:

·         Normalizing WIC food purchase transactions;
·         Avoiding in-lane stigma through reduced time in-lane and by
          enabling 'mixed basket' purchases, without the separation of WIC
          and non-WIC foods at checkout;
·         Maintaining and lowering WIC food costs, including WIC cash
          value benefit (CVB) food costs by reducing store overhead costs
          related to WIC, including but not limited to reduced WIC civil
          monetary penalties due to cashier and manager errors and other
          WIC write-off's; and
·         Improving WIC customer satisfaction, increasing store WIC and 
          non-WIC food sales.

State WIC representatives from the following States and Nations were in attendance to learn about WIC EBT:  Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Zuni, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. There were representatives from the following state retail organizations: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Virginia, Wisconsin FMI, and NGA. Some twenty representatives of USDA were in attendance as well as many WIC authorized vendors, EBT host contractors, third party processors, and grocery executives.

TX retailers in partnership with their state WIC agency have developed an integrated, cost effective, and successful approach to the WIC transaction in lane. There are other systems in place in other states that incorporate older technology, use stand beside systems to process which means double scanning of products and if integrated would bring back transaction fees as additional costs to the authorized retailers per transaction. Our goals were to show other states the successful system TX retailers use on a daily basis, and to educate them on the benefits of offline processing, the elimination of costs, and the improved customer experiences in the lane. A PowerPoint and Q & A that were part of the Symposium, as well as the attendee and exhibitor lists are available on our web site.