ENROLLED
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ACT No. 388
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 AND SENATORS LONG, RISER, SMITH, THOMPSON, AND
WALSWORTH
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 ENROLLEDHB NO. 840
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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 ENROLLEDHB NO. 840
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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
(20) One representative of the Louisiana Meat Processors Association9
appointed by the president of the association.10
C. The commissioner shall appoint the chair of the council, and all other11
officers, if any, shall be elected by the membership of the council. The12
commissioner shall convene the council for its first meeting no later than December13
1, 2010. Support staff for the task force shall be provided by the departments and14
agencies of the executive branch, as requested by the chair of the council. The15
council shall meet at regularly scheduled intervals, not less than quarterly, and at the16
call of the chair thereafter.17
D. Members of the council shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing18
authority. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.19
E. Council members shall not receive additional compensation or a per diem20
from the office of the commissioner for serving on the council; however, legislative21
members of the council shall receive the same per diem and travel allowance as is22
normally provided for meetings of legislative committees, payable out of funds23
appropriated for expenses of the legislature.24
F. In developing sustainable local food policies for Louisiana, the council25
may consider the following policy issues:26
(1) An assessment of the foods that are served to public school students27
under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast program and the28
possibility of increasing the amount of sustainable local food used in these programs.29 ENROLLEDHB NO. 840
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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) Any other strategies, initiatives, or policy issues that the council deems17
necessary in carrying out its duties and responsibilities pursuant to this Chapter.18
G. The council may seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations from public19
and private entities to use for the purpose of this Chapter.20
H. The council may use existing programs that it determines to be useful in21
performing its duties under this Chapter.22
I. No later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2012 Regular Session23
of the Legislature of Louisiana, the council shall report its findings and24
recommendations, including any legislative proposals or proposals for administrative25
action, to the legislature and the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.26
J. This council shall be null and void and terminate on June 30, 2012.27 ENROLLEDHB NO. 840
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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
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: