H.B. No. 1622
AN ACT
relating to a grant program to provide children at risk of hunger or
obesity with increased access to nutritious foods.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
Chapter 25 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 25. CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD PROGRAM
Sec. 25.001. CREATION. Using funds appropriated for that
purpose, the department by rule shall develop and implement a
children's access to nutritious food program to award grants to
nonprofit organizations for the purpose of allowing food banks to
provide children at risk of hunger or obesity with access to
nutritious food outside the school day.
Sec. 25.002. ELIGIBILITY. A nonprofit organization is
eligible to receive a grant under this chapter if the organization:
(1) has at least five years of experience coordinating
a statewide network of food banks and charitable organizations that
serves each county of this state;
(2) operates a program through a statewide network of
food banks that provides children at risk of hunger or obesity with
access to nutritious food outside the school day; and
(3) submits to the department, in the manner and time
prescribed by the department, a detailed proposal for a program to
purchase and distribute food using grant money to food banks or
other charitable organizations that includes:
(A) a schedule of projected costs for the
program;
(B) measurable goals for the program; and
(C) a plan for evaluating the success of the
program.
Sec. 25.003. USE OF FUNDS. A recipient of a grant under
this chapter may use the grant only for the purchase of the
following nutritious foods:
(1) fresh, frozen, or canned meats that are lean or low
in fat content;
(2) dry or canned beans;
(3) nonfat or vegetarian items;
(4) low-fat nut and seed butters;
(5) dry-roasted or raw nuts and seeds;
(6) eggs;
(7) olive oil;
(8) canola oil;
(9) fresh, frozen, or canned fruits with no added
sugar;
(10) fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables;
(11) juices that contain 100 percent fruit juice;
(12) foods that contain 100 percent whole grains;
(13) fresh, dry, canned, or ultra-high-temperature
pasteurized milk that has a fat content of no greater than one
percent;
(14) light yogurt; and
(15) low-fat cheese.
Sec. 25.004. REPORT. A nonprofit organization that
receives a grant under this chapter must at regular intervals
prescribed by the department report the results of the
organization's program to the department. A report under this
section for a prescribed reporting period must include:
(1) a statement of the amount of food purchased and
distributed using grant funds;
(2) a statement of the leveraged value of grant funds;
(3) a list of specific programs that benefited from
grant funds; and
(4) a detailed accounting of how grant funds were
spent.
Sec. 25.005. RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules as
necessary to implement this chapter.
SECTION 2. As soon as possible after the effective date of
this Act, the Department of Agriculture shall implement the
children's access to nutritious food program under Chapter 25,
Agriculture Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1622 was passed by the House on April
9, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 2, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1622 was passed by the Senate on May
12, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor