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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of an advisory committee to study the |
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retail availability of healthy foods in certain underserved areas |
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of this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. HEALTHY FOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The |
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executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
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and the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture shall jointly |
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establish an advisory committee to study and provide |
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recommendations to the legislature regarding: |
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(1) the areas of this state that are underserved in the |
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retail availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and other |
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healthy foods; and |
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(2) the impact of the limited retail availability on |
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proper nutrition and on obesity and related chronic illnesses. |
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(b) The advisory committee consists of eight members as |
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follows: |
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(1) four members appointed by the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission; and |
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(2) four members appointed by the commissioner of the |
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Department of Agriculture. |
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(c) An advisory committee member is not entitled to |
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reimbursement of expenses or to compensation. |
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(d) The advisory committee shall meet not later than the |
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30th day after the date the initial appointments are made and shall |
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select a presiding officer. The committee shall meet regularly as |
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necessary at the call of the presiding officer. |
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(e) The advisory committee shall: |
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(1) investigate the retail availability of fresh |
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fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods in this state; |
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(2) develop recommendations for creating and a plan |
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for implementing a statewide financing program to bring fresh food |
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retailers into areas of this state that are underserved in regard to |
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the retail availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and other |
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healthy foods; and |
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(3) perform other advisory duties as requested by the |
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executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
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or the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture regarding the |
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availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods |
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in this state. |
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(f) Not later than September 1, 2010, the advisory committee |
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shall submit to the legislature a report outlining: |
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(1) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of a |
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statewide financing program to bring fresh food retailers into |
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areas of this state that are underserved in regard to the retail |
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availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy |
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foods; and |
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(2) a plan for implementing the program. |
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SECTION 2. INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN LAW. Chapter 2110, |
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Government Code, does not apply to the advisory committee |
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established under this Act. |
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SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. The advisory committee established |
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under this Act is abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |