By Raymond H.C.R. No. 226
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The State of Texas has a primary interest in the
1-2 health and welfare of its citizens; and
1-3 WHEREAS, More than one million Texas children are hungry or
1-4 at risk of hunger according to the 1995 Texas Childhood Hunger
1-5 Identification Project by the Center for Public Policy Priorities;
1-6 and
1-7 WHEREAS, One in nine Texas children under the age of 12 has
1-8 inadequate economic, family or community resources to provide
1-9 sufficient food security; and
1-10 WHEREAS, More than 70 percent of hungry Texas families are
1-11 "working poor," which are families that have at least one member
1-12 employed and still have inadequate resources to meet all of their
1-13 family's food and nutrition needs; and
1-14 WHEREAS, In 1994, the U.S. Conference of Mayors reported that
1-15 emergency food requests increased 12 percent in the last year and
1-16 that families and individuals relied on emergency food aid both in
1-17 emergencies and as a steady source of food over long periods; and
1-18 WHEREAS, Community gardens provide families who do not "own"
1-19 land a place to grow their own food; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Community gardens provide families with the
1-21 opportunity to grow fresh food to supplement family incomes and
1-22 increase family food security; and
1-23 WHEREAS, Community gardens also increase families' knowledge
2-1 of food sources and nutrition, increase participation in local
2-2 community projects, improve and enhance the diet of low-income
2-3 families, improve skills in problem-solving, teamwork, conflict
2-4 resolution and leadership, and strengthen ties to businesses,
2-5 schools, community agencies and community organizations; and
2-6 WHEREAS, In 1994, the General Land Office identified 118
2-7 tracts of unused or underutilized state real property containing
2-8 nearly 25,000 acres and some of this property may be suitable for
2-9 community gardens or farmer's markets; now, therefore, be it
2-10 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-11 hereby establish the Texas Community Nutrition Task Force to
2-12 develop, implement, and evaluate a two-year community food
2-13 production and farmer's market pilot program using suitable
2-14 underutilized state land or other appropriate property for
2-15 community gardens in at least two Texas communities; and be it
2-16 further
2-17 RESOLVED, That the task force shall report the results of its
2-18 evaluations to the 75th Legislature; and be it further
2-19 RESOLVED, That the task force is composed of representatives
2-20 of the Department of Agriculture, the Texas Agricultural Extension
2-21 Service, the General Land Office, the Texas Department of Health,
2-22 the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Texas
2-23 Department of Human Services, and three representatives of
2-24 nonprofit organizations that work in low-income communities or with
2-25 Texas farmers on projects to increase food security, one of whom is
3-1 appointed by the governor, one by the executive director of the
3-2 Texas Agricultural Extension Service, and one by the commissioner
3-3 of the General Land Office; and be it further
3-4 RESOLVED, That the General Land Office shall identify
3-5 underutilized state property that is subject to the land office's
3-6 authority under Subchapter E, Chapter 31, Natural Resources Code,
3-7 and that is suitable for the establishment of a community food
3-8 garden or farmer's market; and be it further
3-9 RESOLVED, That the task force may select suitable state
3-10 property identified by the General Land Office or other appropriate
3-11 property for the establishment by the task force of a pilot program
3-12 for community gardens; and be it further
3-13 RESOLVED, That each state agency or service on the task force
3-14 may provide resources, information, and staff support for the
3-15 establishment of the community food gardens and farmer's markets;
3-16 and be it further
3-17 RESOLVED, That agencies, services, and organizations that are
3-18 members of the task force may under consideration of the task force
3-19 identify community groups, nonprofit organizations, local
3-20 government agencies, and persons in communities near the gardens
3-21 that will be helpful in implementing the program; and may work with
3-22 community groups to develop a community garden plan and to identify
3-23 the resources necessary to implement the plan; and may teach youth
3-24 and adults in communities near the gardens the basics of gardening
3-25 for food, the basics of nutrition, and how that knowledge benefits
4-1 their health and economic security; and be it further
4-2 RESOLVED, That it is the intent of the Legislature that food
4-3 grown in a community garden may not be sold for individual profit
4-4 but may be sold at or below cost, as appropriate, to local
4-5 low-income families, donated to local families at risk for hunger,
4-6 or sold to the general public with the proceeds of the sales used
4-7 to benefit the continued operation of the gardens; and be it
4-8 further
4-9 RESOLVED, That the task force may select suitable
4-10 underutilized state property on which to an association of farmers
4-11 selected by the task force may establish a farmer's market for the
4-12 purpose of selling locally grown fresh produce directly to
4-13 consumers, if the task force determines that would increase food
4-14 security in the area; and that the General Land Office may lease
4-15 the land to the association for a nominal amount for this purpose;
4-16 and be it further
4-17 RESOLVED, That on behalf of the task force, the state, and
4-18 any affected state agency, the General Land Office may if necessary
4-19 execute leases, contracts, or other transactions related to land to
4-20 accomplish the purposes of the task force; and that the term of a
4-21 contract, lease, or other transaction executed under the authority
4-22 of this resolution may not extend past September 1, 1997; and be it
4-23 further
4-24 RESOLVED, That the procedures of Subchapter E, Chapter 31,
4-25 Natural Resources Code, and of Chapter 672, Acts of the 71st
5-1 Legislature, Regular Session, 1989 (Article 5421t, Vernon's Texas
5-2 Civil Statutes), do not apply to the contracts, leases, or other
5-3 transactions; and be it further
5-4 RESOLVED, That the task force is abolished on September 1,
5-5 1997.
5-6 ¯BEGCAPTIONÆ
5-7 Establishing the Texas Community Nutrition Task Force.
5-8 ¯ENDCAPTIONÆ