74R12036 E By Raymond H.B. No. 2856 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to creation of the Texas Food Security Council. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Title 9, Human Resources Code, is amended by 1-5 adding Chapter 136 to read as follows: 1-6 CHAPTER 136. TEXAS FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL 1-7 Sec. 136.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "council" means 1-8 the Texas Food Security Council. 1-9 Sec. 136.002. TEXAS FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL. (a) The Texas 1-10 Food Security Council is composed of: 1-11 (1) one representative of the Texas Department of 1-12 Human Services, appointed by the commissioner of human services; 1-13 (2) one representative of the Texas Department of 1-14 Health, appointed by the commissioner of public health; 1-15 (3) one representative of the Texas Department of 1-16 Commerce, appointed by the executive director of the Texas 1-17 Department of Commerce; 1-18 (4) one representative of the Texas Department on 1-19 Aging, appointed by the executive director of the Texas Department 1-20 on Aging; 1-21 (5) one representative of the Department of 1-22 Agriculture, appointed by the commissioner of agriculture; 1-23 (6) one representative of the Texas Agricultural 1-24 Extension Service, appointed by the director of the service; 2-1 (7) one representative of the Central Education 2-2 Agency, appointed by the commissioner of education; 2-3 (8) three representatives of nonprofit organizations 2-4 that have experience developing food policy councils or have 2-5 conducted programs that increase low-income families' secure access 2-6 to food or improve nutrition in low-income communities, one 2-7 appointed by the governor, one appointed by the lieutenant 2-8 governor, and one appointed by the commissioner of human services; 2-9 (9) three representatives of agriculture in this state 2-10 who have experience in farmers markets, public gardens, or other 2-11 programs that increase low-income communities' secure access to 2-12 food, one appointed by the governor, one appointed by the 2-13 commissioner of agriculture, and one appointed by the commissioner 2-14 of the General Land Office; and 2-15 (10) one representative of the office of the 2-16 comptroller, appointed by the comptroller. 2-17 (b) The governor shall designate the presiding officer of 2-18 the council. 2-19 (c) A member of the council is not entitled to receive 2-20 compensation or reimbursement for travel expenses while serving on 2-21 the council. 2-22 Sec. 136.003. DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a) The council shall: 2-23 (1) inventory resources that exist in government that 2-24 could be used to increase local communities' secure access to food; 2-25 (2) develop programs to reduce the dependence of 2-26 low-income families on nutritional assistance programs or other, 2-27 similar government programs; 3-1 (3) develop a coordinated plan to create opportunities 3-2 to increase access to food in low-income communities; and 3-3 (4) provide information and technical assistance, 3-4 including assistance in applying for public and private grants, to 3-5 help local communities develop comprehensive responses to hunger. 3-6 (b) The council shall provide local communities information 3-7 relating to the: 3-8 (1) financing and development of programs that could 3-9 be used by local communities to increase secure access to food; 3-10 (2) availability of land owned by government entities 3-11 for use as community gardens; 3-12 (3) development of farmers markets; 3-13 (4) development of local food policy councils; and 3-14 (5) dissemination of nutrition education and other 3-15 information related to improving secure access to food. 3-16 (c) The council shall meet at least quarterly. 3-17 (d) Not later than December 1, 1996, the council shall 3-18 report to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of 3-19 representatives on: 3-20 (1) the council's activities to accomplish the duties 3-21 under Subsection (a); and 3-22 (2) any recommendations for legislation proposed by 3-23 the council to increase local communities' secure access to food. 3-24 Sec. 136.004. AGENCY COOPERATION. Each agency with a 3-25 representative on the council shall cooperate with the council and 3-26 shall provide information and resources necessary to accomplish the 3-27 council's duties. 4-1 Sec. 136.005. GRANTS. The council may apply for and accept 4-2 public or private grants to fund the council's duties. 4-3 Sec. 136.006. COUNCIL ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER. The 4-4 council is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 1997. 4-5 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 4-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 4-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 4-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 4-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 4-10 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 4-11 passage, and it is so enacted.