| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the establishment of the office of food system security |
|
|
and resiliency in the Department of Agriculture. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Section 12.052 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 12.052. OFFICE OF FOOD SYSTEM SECURITY AND RESILIENCY. |
|
|
(a) In this section, "office" means the office of food system |
|
|
security and resiliency established by this section. |
|
|
(b) The office of food system security and resiliency is |
|
|
established as a division within the department. |
|
|
(c) The office is responsible for food system security and |
|
|
resiliency in this state, including: |
|
|
(1) coordinating state resources and programs so food |
|
|
access industry professionals can efficiently use resources to meet |
|
|
the needs of this state; |
|
|
(2) ensuring a food system in this state that is free |
|
|
of disruption; |
|
|
(3) promoting the growth, manufacture, and processing |
|
|
of agricultural products in this state for farm-to-store and |
|
|
farm-to-table consumption; and |
|
|
(4) developing regional food system security and |
|
|
resiliency planning by working with other state agencies, counties, |
|
|
municipalities, school districts, and local governments. |
|
|
(d) The office shall, not later than December 1 of each |
|
|
even-numbered year, make recommendations to the legislature for |
|
|
legislation that may improve food system security and resiliency in |
|
|
this state. |
|
|
(e) The office shall manage the Texas food system security |
|
|
and resiliency planning council if that council is established by |
|
|
an Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |