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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE BILL NO. 840
BY REPRESENTATIVE SIMON
AGRICULTURE: Establishes the La. Sustainable Local Food Policy Council
AN ACT1
To enact Chapter 3-E of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised2
of R.S. 3:299, relative to the Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy Council; to3
provide for the council membership, duties and responsibilities, vacancies, and4
compensation; to provide for termination; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. Chapter 3-E of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,7
comprised of R.S. 3:299, is hereby enacted to read as follows:8
CHAPTER 3-E. LOUISIANA SUSTAINABLE LOCAL FOOD POLICY COUNCIL9
ยง299. Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy Council; creation; purpose; duties10
and responsibilities; membership; vacancies; compensation; termination.11
A. There is hereby created the Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy12
Council, referred to in this chapter as the "council", within the Department of13
Agriculture and Forestry, for the purpose of building a local food economy14
benefitting Louisiana by creating jobs, stimulating statewide economic development,15
preservation of farmlands and water resources, increasing consumer access to fresh16
and nutritious foods, and providing greater food security for all Louisianians.17
B. The membership of the council shall be as follows:18
(1) The commissioner of agriculture and forestry or his designee.19 HLS 10RS-829 ORIGINAL
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(2) A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of1
the House of Representatives.2
(3) A member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.3
(4) The state superintendent of education or his designee.4
(5) The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals or his designee.5
(6) The secretary of the Department of Economic Development or his6
designee.7
(7) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or his8
designee.9
(8) The president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., or his10
designee.11
(9) Three local food producers, at least one of whom shall be a sustainable12
local food producer, to be appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.13
(10) One representative of a food bank located in Louisiana to be appointed14
by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.15
(11) One representative of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center16
appointed by the chancellor of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.17
(12) One representative of the Southern University Agricultural Center18
appointed by the chancellor of the Southern University Agricultural Center.19
(13) One representative of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service,20
appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.21
(14) One registered dietician appointed by the Louisiana Dietetics22
Association.23
(15) One representative of a business specializing in retail or direct food24
sales appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.25
C. The commissioner shall appoint the chair of the council, and all other26
officers, if any, shall be elected by the membership of the council. The27
commissioner shall convene the council for its first meeting no later than December28
1, 2010. Support staff for the task force shall be provided by the departments and29 HLS 10RS-829 ORIGINAL
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agencies of the executive branch, as requested by the chair of the council. The1
council shall meet at regularly scheduled intervals and at the call of the chair2
thereafter.3
D. Members of the council shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing4
authority. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.5
E. Council members shall not receive additional compensation or a per diem6
from the office of the commissioner for serving on the council; however, legislative7
members of the council shall receive the same per diem and travel allowance as is8
normally provided for meetings of legislative committees, payable out of funds9
appropriated for expenses of the legislature.10
F. In developing sustainable local food policies for Louisiana, the council11
shall consider the following policy issues:12
(1) An assessment of the foods that are served to public school students13
under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast program and the14
possibility of increasing the amount of sustainable local food used in these programs.15
(2) An analysis of the possibility of making sustainable local food available16
under public assistance programs, including the possibility of food stamp use at local17
farmers markets.18
(3) An analysis of the potential of promoting urban gardens and backyard19
gardens for the purpose of improving the health of citizens, making use of idle urban20
property, and lowering food costs for Louisianians.21
(4) An evaluation of the potential impacts that the production of sustainable22
local food would have on economic development, both the direct impacts for the23
producers of sustainable local food and the actual and potential indirect impacts.24
(5) Identification of local and regional efforts that could provide information25
and training programs to assist entrepreneurs and local farmers pursuing26
opportunities related to a sustainable local food economy.27
(6) Issues regarding the identification and development of solutions to28
regulatory and policy barriers to developing a strong sustainable local food economy.29 HLS 10RS-829 ORIGINAL
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(7) Issues regarding strengthening local infrastructure and entrepreneurial1
efforts related to a sustainable local food economy.2
(8) Consider any other strategies, initiatives, or policy issues that the council3
deems necessary in carrying out its duties and responsibilities pursuant to this4
Chapter.5
G. The council may seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations from public6
and private entities to use for the purpose of this Chapter.7
H. The council may use existing programs that it determines to be useful in8
performing its duties under this Chapter.9
I. No later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2012 Regular Session10
of the Legislature, the council shall report its findings and recommendations,11
including any legislative proposals or proposals for administrative action, to the12
legislature and the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.13
J. This council shall be null and void and terminate on June 30, 2012.14
Section 2. The commissioner of agriculture and forestry, the speaker of the House15
of Representatives, the president of the Senate, and all other appointing authorities shall16
appoint members of the Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy Council not later than17
October 1, 2010.18
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Simon HB No. 840
Abstract: Establishes the La. Sustainable Local Food Policy Council and provides for its
duties, responsibilities, membership, vacancies, compensation, and termination.
Proposed law establishes the La. Sustainable Local Food Policy Council within the Dept. of
Agriculture and Forestry for the purpose of building a sustainable local food economy that
will create jobs, stimulate economic development, protect the environment and preserve
open spaces, increase consumer access to fresh and nutritious foods, and provide greater
food security.
Proposed law provides for the membership of the council as follows:
(1)The commissioner of agriculture and forestry or his designee. HLS 10RS-829 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 840
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(2)A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker.
(3)A member of the Senate appointed by the senate president
(4)The state superintendent of education or his designee.
(5)The secretary of DHH or his designee.
(6)The secretary of DED or his designee.
(7)The secretary of DWF or his designee.
(8)The president of the La. Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., or his designee.
(9)Three local food producers, at least one of whom shall be a sustainable local food
producer, appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.
(10)One representative of a food bank located in La. appointed by the commissioner of
agriculture and forestry.
(11)One representative of the LSU AgCenter appointed by the chancellor of the LSU
AgCenter.
(12)One representative of the SU AgCenter appointed by the chancellor of the SU
AgCenter.
(13)One representative of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service appointed by the
commissioner of agriculture and forestry.
(14)One registered dietician appointed by La. Dietetics Association.
(15)One representative of a business specializing in retail or direct food sales appointed
by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.
Proposed law provides that the chair be appointed by the commissioner, and any other
officers be elected by the council membership. Further provides that the commissioner shall
call the first meeting of the task force no later than Dec. 1, 2010.
Proposed law provides that the members of the council shall serve at the pleasure of the
appointing authorities, and vacancies shall be filled in the manner of the original
appointment.
Proposed law provides that in developing sustainable local food policies, the council shall
consider the following issues:
(1)An assessment of the foods served to public school students under the National
School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, including the possibility
of increasing the amount of sustainable local food used in these programs.
(2)An analysis of the possibility of making sustainable local food available under public
assistance programs, including the possibility of food stamp use at local farmers
markets.
(3)An analysis of the potential of promoting urban and backyard gardens for the
purpose of improving the health of citizens, making use of idle urban property, and
lowering food costs. HLS 10RS-829 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 840
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are additions.
(4)An evaluation of the potential impacts that the production of sustainable local food
would have on economic development, both direct and indirect impacts.
(5)Identification of local and regional efforts that could provide training programs to
assist entrepreneurs and local farmers pursing opportunities related to a sustainable
local food economy.
(6)Issues regarding the identification and development of solutions to regulatory and
policy barriers to developing a strong sustainable local food economy.
(7)Issues regarding strengthening local infrastructure and entrepreneurial efforts related
to a sustainable local food economy.
(8)Consider other strategies, initiatives, or policy issues that the council deems
necessary in carrying out its duties.
Proposed law provides for the council to report its findings, recommendations, or proposals
to the Legislature and the commissioner of agriculture and forestry no later than 60 days
prior to the convening of the 2012 R.S.
Proposed law provides for the termination of the task force on June 30, 2012.
(Adds R.S. 3:299)