74R12036 E
By Raymond H.B. No. 2856
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2856:
By Hunter of Taylor C.S.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.