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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring that certain strategic plans of certain state |
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agencies include the goals of reducing the incidence of food |
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insecurity, poor nutrition, and diet-related disease in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 12.00251 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.00251. GOALS OF ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY, POOR |
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NUTRITION, AND DIET-RELATED DISEASE; INCLUSION IN STRATEGIC PLAN. |
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(a) The department shall include in the department's strategic |
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plan required under Chapter 2056, Government Code, the goals of |
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reducing the incidence of food insecurity, poor nutrition, and |
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diet-related disease in this state by: |
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(1) increasing access to nutritious foods by persons |
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in this state; |
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(2) maximizing federal funds received under child |
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nutrition programs, including the national free or reduced-price |
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lunch program established under 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq., by |
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increasing: |
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(A) the efficiency of the programs; and |
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(B) access to the programs by persons eligible |
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for the programs; |
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(3) strengthening the department's education |
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initiatives to increase awareness of food and nutrition programs |
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available in this state; and |
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(4) facilitating obesity prevention and diabetes |
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awareness initiatives. |
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(b) The goals required under Subsection (a) must include |
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specific targets for increasing participation in nutrition |
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programs administered by the department. |
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(c) The department shall seek input from food insecurity |
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experts, service providers, and other stakeholders in developing |
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the goals required under Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 7, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 7.041 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 7.041. GOALS OF ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY, POOR |
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NUTRITION, AND DIET-RELATED DISEASE; INCLUSION IN STRATEGIC PLAN. |
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(a) The agency shall include in the agency's strategic plan |
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required under Chapter 2056, Government Code, the goals of reducing |
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the incidence of food insecurity, poor nutrition, and diet-related |
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disease in this state by: |
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(1) increasing access to nutritious foods by persons |
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served by the agency; |
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(2) maximizing federal funds received under child |
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nutrition programs, including the national free or reduced-price |
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|
lunch program established under 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq., by |
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|
increasing: |
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(A) the efficiency of the programs; and |
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(B) access to the programs by eligible persons |
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served by the agency; |
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(3) strengthening the agency's education initiatives |
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to increase awareness of food and nutrition programs available in |
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this state; and |
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(4) facilitating obesity prevention and diabetes |
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awareness initiatives. |
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(b) The goals required under Subsection (a) must include |
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specific targets for increasing participation in nutrition |
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programs administered by the agency. |
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(c) The agency shall seek input from food insecurity |
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experts, service providers, and other stakeholders in developing |
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the goals required under Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 3. Section 531.022, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (f), (g), and (h) to read as follows: |
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(f) In addition to the goals specified by Subsection (c), |
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the plan must include as goals of the commission, the Department of |
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Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, the Department of Aging and |
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Disability Services, and the Department of State Health Services |
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reducing the incidence of food insecurity, poor nutrition, and |
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diet-related disease in this state by: |
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(1) increasing access to nutritious foods by persons |
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served by the agencies; |
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(2) maximizing federal funds received under the |
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special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and |
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children and the supplemental nutrition assistance program by |
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increasing the efficiency of the programs; |
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(3) strengthening each agency's education initiatives |
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to increase awareness of food and nutrition programs available in |
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this state; and |
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(4) facilitating obesity prevention and diabetes |
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awareness initiatives. |
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(g) The goals required under Subsection (f) must include |
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specific targets for increasing participation in nutrition |
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programs administered by the commission and other agencies |
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described by that subsection. |
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(h) The executive commissioner shall seek input from food |
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insecurity experts, service providers, and other stakeholders in |
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developing the goals required under Subsection (f). |
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SECTION 4. In the first strategic plan under Chapter 2056, |
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Government Code, issued after the effective date of this Act: |
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(1) the Department of Agriculture shall, using |
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existing funds, include in the plan the goals and methods of |
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implementing the goals required by Section 12.00251(a), |
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Agriculture Code, as added by this Act; and |
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(2) the Texas Education Agency shall, using existing |
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funds, include in the plan the goals and methods of implementing the |
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goals required by Section 7.041(a), Education Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 5. The executive commissioner of the Health and |
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Human Services Commission shall, using existing funds, include the |
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goals and methods of implementing those goals specified by Section |
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531.022(f), Government Code, as added by this Act, in the first |
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biennial update of the coordinated strategic plan for health and |
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human services required by Section 531.022, Government Code, as |
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amended by this Act, that is required after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |