1-1 By: Raymond (Senate Sponsor - Ellis) H.B. No. 2856
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 15, 1995;
1-3 May 18, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural
1-4 Resources; May 25, 1995, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 25, 1995, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to creation of the Texas Food Security Council.
1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10 SECTION 1. Title 9, Human Resources Code, is amended by
1-11 adding Chapter 136 to read as follows:
1-12 CHAPTER 136. TEXAS FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL
1-13 Sec. 136.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "council" means
1-14 the Texas Food Security Council.
1-15 Sec. 136.002. TEXAS FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL. (a) The Texas
1-16 Food Security Council is composed of:
1-17 (1) one representative of the Texas Department of
1-18 Human Services, appointed by the commissioner of human services;
1-19 (2) one representative of the Texas Department of
1-20 Health, appointed by the commissioner of public health;
1-21 (3) one representative of the Texas Department of
1-22 Commerce, appointed by the executive director of the Texas
1-23 Department of Commerce;
1-24 (4) one representative of the Texas Department on
1-25 Aging, appointed by the executive director of the Texas Department
1-26 on Aging;
1-27 (5) one representative of the Department of
1-28 Agriculture, appointed by the commissioner of agriculture;
1-29 (6) one representative of the Texas Agricultural
1-30 Extension Service, appointed by the director of the service;
1-31 (7) one representative of the Central Education
1-32 Agency, appointed by the commissioner of education;
1-33 (8) three representatives of nonprofit organizations
1-34 that have experience developing food policy councils or have
1-35 conducted programs that increase low-income families' secure access
1-36 to food or improve nutrition in low-income communities, one
1-37 appointed by the governor, one appointed by the lieutenant
1-38 governor, and one appointed by the commissioner of human services;
1-39 (9) three representatives of agriculture in this state
1-40 who have experience in farmers markets, public gardens, or other
1-41 programs that increase low-income communities' secure access to
1-42 food, one appointed by the governor, one appointed by the
1-43 commissioner of agriculture, and one appointed by the commissioner
1-44 of the General Land Office; and
1-45 (10) one representative of the office of the
1-46 comptroller, appointed by the comptroller.
1-47 (b) The governor shall designate the presiding officer of
1-48 the council.
1-49 (c) A member of the council is not entitled to receive
1-50 compensation or reimbursement for travel expenses while serving on
1-51 the council.
1-52 Sec. 136.003. DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a) The council shall:
1-53 (1) inventory resources that exist in government that
1-54 could be used to increase local communities' secure access to food;
1-55 (2) develop programs to reduce the dependence of
1-56 low-income families on nutritional assistance programs or other,
1-57 similar government programs;
1-58 (3) develop a coordinated plan to create opportunities
1-59 to increase access to food in low-income communities; and
1-60 (4) provide information and technical assistance,
1-61 including assistance in applying for public and private grants, to
1-62 help local communities develop comprehensive responses to hunger.
1-63 (b) The council shall provide local communities information
1-64 relating to the:
1-65 (1) financing and development of programs that could
1-66 be used by local communities to increase secure access to food;
1-67 (2) availability of land owned by government entities
1-68 for use as community gardens;
2-1 (3) development of farmers markets;
2-2 (4) development of local food policy councils; and
2-3 (5) dissemination of nutrition education and other
2-4 information related to improving secure access to food.
2-5 (c) The council shall meet at least quarterly.
2-6 (d) Not later than December 1, 1996, the council shall
2-7 report to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
2-8 representatives on:
2-9 (1) the council's activities to accomplish the duties
2-10 under Subsection (a); and
2-11 (2) any recommendations for legislation proposed by
2-12 the council to increase local communities' secure access to food.
2-13 Sec. 136.004. AGENCY COOPERATION. Each agency with a
2-14 representative on the council shall cooperate with the council and
2-15 shall provide information and resources necessary to accomplish the
2-16 council's duties.
2-17 Sec. 136.005. GRANTS. The council may apply for and accept
2-18 public or private grants to fund the council's duties.
2-19 Sec. 136.006. COUNCIL ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER. The
2-20 council is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 1997.
2-21 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
2-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-25 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-26 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-27 passage, and it is so enacted.
2-28 * * * * *