BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2414

By: Miles

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Healthy Food Advisory Committee was created to study the availability of fresh, healthy foods across the state and to provide recommendations to the legislature regarding options for increasing access to those foods in underserved areas.  The committee has issued a report and is set to expire in 2011.  H.B. 2414 seeks to continue the committee for another two years to investigate sources of funding for improving the availability of fresh food in Texas.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2414 amends Sections 1(f) and (g), Chapter 730 (S.B. 343), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, to require the Healthy Food Advisory Committee to investigate sources of funding for improving the retail availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods in this state, including programs and grants administered by the federal government and nongovernmental organizations. The bill extends the date by which the advisory committee is required to submit a report to the legislature from September 1, 2010, to September 1, 2012. The bill requires the report to include a list of possible sources of funding for the financing program and specifies that the report must include a plan for implementing the financing program.

H.B. 2414 amends Section 3, Chapter 730 (S.B. 343), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, to extend the Healthy Food Advisory Committee by making provisions relating to the advisory committee expire on September 1, 2013, rather than September 1, 2011.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.