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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on food deserts and their disproportionate |
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impact among communities of color. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(2) "Food desert" means a geographic area in this |
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state the department determines is an area with limited access to |
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healthy and nutritious food. |
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(b) The department, in collaboration with any appropriate |
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state agency, shall conduct a study on food deserts and any |
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disproportionate impact food deserts have on communities of color. |
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In conducting the study, the department shall: |
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(1) investigate the causes of food deserts; |
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(2) investigate the health effects of food deserts; |
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(3) investigate the financial impact of food deserts; |
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(4) compare access to healthy and nutritious food |
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related to an individual's: |
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(A) age; |
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(B) race and ethnicity; and |
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(C) socioeconomic background; and |
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(5) investigate the origins of any disproportionate |
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impact food deserts have on communities of color. |
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(c) Based on the results of the study conducted under this |
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section, the department shall develop recommendations for |
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legislative and other action to: |
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(1) address disparities in food access among |
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communities of color; and |
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(2) increase access to healthy and nutritious food. |
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(d) Not later than September 1, 2026, the department shall |
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prepare and submit to each standing committee of the legislature |
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with primary jurisdiction over the Department of State Health |
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Services a written report summarizing the results of the study and |
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including the recommendations developed under this section. |
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(e) This Act expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |