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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1188 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 128
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Walter F. Timilty
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying
resolve:
Resolve establishing a commission to study childhood hunger in Norfolk County as a result of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Walter F. TimiltyNorfolk, Plymouth and BristolMichael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/21/2023 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1188 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 128
By Mr. Timilty, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 128) of Walter F. Timilty and
Michael O. Moore that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special
commission (including members of the General Court) to study childhood hunger in Norfolk
County as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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Resolve establishing a commission to study childhood hunger in Norfolk County as a result of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
1 Resolved, that there shall be a commission to study the increase in childhood hunger in
2norfolk county as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission shall consist of the
3commissioner of public health or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of the
4executive office of health and human services or a designee; the commissioner of transitional
5assistance or a designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or a
6designee; the commissioner of agricultural resources or a designee; the house and senate
7members of the Massachusetts food policy council; the house and senate chairs of the joint
8committee on public health; a representative from the medical community specializing in
9childhood nutrition; a representative of project bread; a representative of the greater boston food
10bank; a norfolk county commissioner or a designee; a representative from a norfolk county food
11pantry; and a representative from the norfolk county farm bureau. 2 of 3
12 The commission shall study the increase in childhood hunger and access to food in
13norfolk county as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission shall evaluate the causes
14and solutions for childhood hunger in norfolk county and generate a report which shall examine:
15 (i) childhood hunger in norfolk county prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic;
16 (ii) causes of childhood hunger in norfolk county as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
17 (iii) projected impact of increase in hunger on children in norfolk county, including but
18not limited to, educational development and health;
19 (iv) methods for accessing food in norfolk county, including but not limited to, access to
20grocery stores, food banks, food pantries, and school meal programs;
21 (v) types of foods being distributed by food banks and food pantries in norfolk county,
22including the nutritional value of said foods;
23 (vi) methods for improving access to food in norfolk county; including but not limited to,
24increased food distribution programs through schools, food banks and food pantries; and
25 (vii) solutions to aid childhood hunger in norfolk county, including but not limited to,
26state financial assistance, the development of food access network within norfolk county, and
27proposed legislation.
28 The commission shall make recommendations regarding actions required to alleviate
29childhood hunger in norfolk county. In addition, the commission shall consider issues related to
30disparities in nutrition and access to food, and the impact of hunger on children’s educational
31development and health. 3 of 3
32 Not later than December 31, 2021, the commission shall submit a written report of its
33findings and recommendations, together with any proposed legislation, to the clerks of the senate
34and the house of representatives.