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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of an advisory committee to study the |
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acceptance at farmers markets of food stamps and benefits under the |
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women, infants, and children supplemental food program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In |
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this Act: |
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(1) "Farmers market" means a location at which a group |
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of two or more farmers that are certified under the Department of |
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Agriculture's farmers market certification program offer produce |
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for retail sale. |
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(2) "Food stamp program" means the program operated |
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under 7 U.S.C. Chapter 51 and administered under Chapter 33, Human |
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Resources Code. |
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(3) "W.I.C. program" means the federal special |
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supplemental food program for women, infants, and children |
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administered by the Department of State Health Services. |
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(b) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission and the commissioner of the Department of |
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Agriculture shall jointly establish an advisory committee to study |
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and provide recommendations to the legislature regarding the |
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incorporation and use of food stamps and W.I.C. program benefits at |
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farmers markets in the state. |
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(c) The advisory committee consists of nine members |
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appointed as follows: |
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(1) the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture |
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shall appoint four representatives of farmers market vendors, with |
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two members representing urban farmers markets and two members |
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representing rural farmers markets or roadside stands; and |
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(2) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall appoint: |
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(A) one representative of an advocacy group for |
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W.I.C. program recipients, such as a charity or consumer group; |
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(B) one representative of an advocacy group for |
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food stamp recipients, such as a charity or consumer group; |
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(C) one representative of staff at W.I.C. program |
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clinics; |
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(D) one representative of a health and human |
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services agency who is a subject matter expert on the W.I.C. |
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program; and |
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(E) one representative of a health and human |
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services agency who is a subject matter expert on the food stamp |
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program. |
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(d) An advisory committee member is not entitled to |
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reimbursement of expenses or to compensation. |
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(e) The advisory committee shall meet within 30 days after |
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the date the initial appointments have been made and shall select a |
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presiding officer. The committee shall meet regularly as |
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necessary. |
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(f) The advisory committee shall: |
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(1) study the costs and benefits of incorporating food |
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stamp and W.I.C. program benefits at farmers markets for the |
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purchase of fresh, local produce; |
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(2) determine the feasibility and cost of providing |
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handheld scanners to farmers market vendors to accept electronic |
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benefits transfer (EBT) cards; |
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(3) determine methods of marketing and outreach to |
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farmers market vendors and food stamp and W.I.C. program |
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participants to encourage the use of food stamps and W.I.C. program |
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benefits to purchase fresh, local produce from farmers markets; |
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(4) study methods of funding the transition to farmers |
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market participation in the food stamp and W.I.C. programs, |
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including federal, state, and private funding; and |
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(5) 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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acceptance of food stamps and W.I.C. program benefits at farmers |
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markets. |
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(g) The Department of Agriculture shall provide |
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administrative support, including staff, for the advisory |
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committee. |
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(h) Not later than September 1, 2010, the advisory committee |
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shall submit to the legislature a report outlining the costs, |
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benefits, and feasibility of incorporating food stamp and W.I.C. |
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program benefits at farmers markets to purchase fresh, local |
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produce. |
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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. |