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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE BILL NO. 840
BY REPRESENTATIVES SIMON, BOBBY BADON, BURFORD, HENRY BURNS,
CHANEY, GUINN, HOWARD, LEBAS, LITTLE, PERRY, RITCHIE, ROY, AND
THIBAUT
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, and R.S. 36:629(M) and 919.10, relative to the Louisiana Sustainable3
Local Food Policy Council; to provide for the council membership, duties and4
responsibilities, vacancies, and compensation; to provide for termination; and to5
provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. Chapter 3-E of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,8
comprised of R.S. 3:299, is hereby enacted to read as follows:9
CHAPTER 3-E. LOUISIANA SUSTAINABLE LOCAL FOOD POLICY COUNCIL10
§299. Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy Council; creation; purpose; duties11
and responsibilities; membership; vacancies; compensation; termination.12
A. There is hereby created the Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy13
Council, referred to in this Chapter as the "council", within the Department of14
Agriculture and Forestry, for the purpose of building a local food economy15
benefitting Louisiana by creating jobs, stimulating statewide economic development,16
preservation of farmlands and water resources, increasing consumer access to fresh17
and nutritious foods, and providing greater food security for all Louisianians.18 HLS 10RS-829 ENGROSSED
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B. The membership of the council shall be as follows:1
(1) The commissioner of agriculture and forestry or his designee.2
(2) A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of3
the House of Representatives.4
(3) A member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.5
(4) The state superintendent of education or his designee.6
(5) The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals or his designee.7
(6) The secretary of the Department of Economic Development or his8
designee.9
(7) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or his10
designee.11
(8) The president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., or his12
designee.13
(9) Three local food producers, at least one of whom shall be a sustainable14
local food producer, to be appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.15
(10) One representative of a food bank located in Louisiana to be appointed16
by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.17
(11) One representative of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center18
appointed by the chancellor of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.19
(12) One representative of the Southern University Agricultural Center20
appointed by the chancellor of the Southern University Agricultural Center.21
(13) One representative of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service22
appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.23
(14) One registered dietician appointed by the Louisiana Dietetics24
Association.25
(15) One representative of a business specializing in retail or direct food26
sales appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.27 HLS 10RS-829 ENGROSSED
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(16) One representative of a farmers market management organization1
appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.2
(17) The director of the Prevention Research Center at Tulane University or3
his designee. 4
(18) One representative of a financial institution providing financing to local5
food producers appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.6
(19) One commercial fisherman appointed by the commissioner of7
agriculture and forestry.8
C. The commissioner shall appoint the chair of the council, and all other9
officers, if any, shall be elected by the membership of the council. The10
commissioner shall convene the council for its first meeting no later than December11
1, 2010. Support staff for the task force shall be provided by the departments and12
agencies of the executive branch, as requested by the chair of the council. The13
council shall meet at regularly scheduled intervals, not less than quarterly, and at the14
call of the chair thereafter.15
D. Members of the council shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing16
authority. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.17
E. Council members shall not receive additional compensation or a per diem18
from the office of the commissioner for serving on the council; however, legislative19
members of the council shall receive the same per diem and travel allowance as is20
normally provided for meetings of legislative committees, payable out of funds21
appropriated for expenses of the legislature.22
F. In developing sustainable local food policies for Louisiana, the council23
may consider the following policy issues:24
(1) An assessment of the foods that are served to public school students25
under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast program and the26
possibility of increasing the amount of sustainable local food used in these programs.27 HLS 10RS-829 ENGROSSED
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(2) An analysis of the possibility of making sustainable local food available1
under public assistance programs, including the possibility of food stamp use at local2
farmers markets.3
(3) An analysis of the potential of promoting urban gardens and backyard4
gardens for the purpose of improving the health of citizens, making use of idle urban5
property, and lowering food costs for Louisianians.6
(4) An evaluation of the potential impacts that the production of sustainable7
local food would have on economic development, both the direct impacts for the8
producers of sustainable local food and the actual and potential indirect impacts.9
(5) Identification of local and regional efforts that could provide information10
and training programs to assist entrepreneurs and local farmers pursuing11
opportunities related to a sustainable local food economy.12
(6) Issues regarding the identification and development of solutions to13
regulatory and policy barriers to developing a strong sustainable local food economy.14
(7) Issues regarding strengthening local infrastructure and entrepreneurial15
efforts related to a sustainable local food economy.16
(8) Consider any other strategies, initiatives, or policy issues that the council17
deems necessary in carrying out its duties and responsibilities pursuant to this18
Chapter.19
G. The council may seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations from public20
and private entities to use for the purpose of this Chapter.21
H. The council may use existing programs that it determines to be useful in22
performing its duties under this Chapter.23
I. No later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2012 Regular Session24
of the Legislature of Louisiana, the council shall report its findings and25
recommendations, including any legislative proposals or proposals for administrative26
action, to the legislature and the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.27
J. This council shall be null and void and terminate on June 30, 2012.28 HLS 10RS-829 ENGROSSED
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Section 2. R.S. 36:629(M) and 919.10 are hereby enacted to read as follows:1
§629. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to the2
Department of Agriculture and Forestry3
* * *4
M. The Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy Council (R.S. 3:299)5
hereafter shall be within the Department of Agriculture and Forestry as provided in6
R.S. 36:919.10.7
* * *8
§919.10. Transfer; Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy Council9
The Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy Council is placed within the10
Department of Agriculture and Forestry and shall exercise its powers, duties,11
functions, and responsibilities as provided in this Part. In addition the council may12
solicit, receive, and expend funds as authorized by law.13
Section 3. The commissioner of agriculture and forestry, the speaker of the House14
of Representatives, the president of the Senate, and all other appointing authorities shall15
appoint members of the Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy Council not later than16
October 1, 2010.17
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.
(2)A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker. HLS 10RS-829 ENGROSSED
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(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 La. 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.
(16)One representative of a farmers market management organization appointed by the
commissioner of agriculture and forestry.
(17)The director of the Prevention Research Center at Tulane University or his designee.
(18)One representative of a financial institution providing financing to local food
producers appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.
(19)One commercial fisherman 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 may
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. HLS 10RS-829 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 840
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
(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.
(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 placement of the council within the Dept. of Agriculture and
Forestry and allows the council to solicit, receive, and expend funds as authorized.
Proposed law provides for the termination of the task force on June 30, 2012.
(Adds R.S. 3:299 and R.S. 36:629(M) and 919.10)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
Aquaculture, and Rural Development to the original bill.
1. Added four members to the membership of the council.
2. Provided for council meetings to be held quarterly at a minimum.
3. Placed the council within the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry.
4. Made technical amendments.