Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB343 Compare Versions

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Old	New	Differences
1	1	S.B. No. 343
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to the creation of an advisory committee to study the
6	6	retail availability of healthy foods in certain underserved areas
7	7	of this state.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. HEALTHY FOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The
10	10	executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
11	11	and the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture shall jointly
12	12	establish an advisory committee to study and provide
13	13	recommendations to the legislature regarding:
14	14	(1) the areas of this state that are underserved in the
15	15	retail availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and other
16	16	healthy foods; and
17	17	(2) the impact of the limited retail availability on
18	18	proper nutrition and on obesity and related chronic illnesses.
19	19	(b) The advisory committee consists of eight members as
20	20	follows:
21	21	(1) four members appointed by the executive
22	22	commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission; and
23	23	(2) four members appointed by the commissioner of the
24	24	Department of Agriculture.
25	25	(c) In appointing members of the advisory committee, the
26	26	executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
27	27	and the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture shall ensure
28	28	that the members reflect the diversity of this state, with members
29	29	representing:
30	30	(1) rural areas;
31	31	(2) urban areas; and
32	32	(3) different geographical regions of the state.
33	33	(d) An advisory committee member is not entitled to
34	34	reimbursement of expenses or to compensation.
35	35	(e) The advisory committee shall meet not later than the
36	36	30th day after the date the initial appointments are made and shall
37	37	select a presiding officer. The committee shall meet regularly as
38	38	necessary at the call of the presiding officer.
39	39	(f) The advisory committee shall:
40	40	(1) investigate the retail availability of fresh
41	41	fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods in this state;
42	42	(2) develop recommendations for creating and a plan
43	43	for implementing a statewide financing program to bring fresh food
44	44	retailers into areas of this state that are underserved in regard to
45	45	the retail availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and other
46	46	healthy foods; and
47	47	(3) perform other advisory duties as requested by the
48	48	executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
49	49	or the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture regarding the
50	50	availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods
51	51	in this state.
52	52	(g) Not later than September 1, 2010, the advisory committee
53	53	shall submit to the legislature a report outlining:
54	54	(1) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of a
55	55	statewide financing program to bring fresh food retailers into
56	56	areas of this state that are underserved in regard to the retail
57	57	availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy
58	58	foods; and
59	59	(2) a plan for implementing the program.
60	60	SECTION 2. INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN LAW. Chapter 2110,
61	61	Government Code, does not apply to the advisory committee
62	62	established under this Act.
63	63	SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. The advisory committee established
64	64	under this Act is abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2011.
65	65	SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
66	66	immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
67	67	elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
68	68	Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
69	69	immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
70	70	______________________________ ______________________________
71	71	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
72	72	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 343 passed the Senate on
73	73	March 19, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
74	74	______________________________
75	75	Secretary of the Senate
76	76	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 343 passed the House on
77	77	May 27, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 8, one
78	78	present not voting.
79	79	______________________________
80	80	Chief Clerk of the House
81	81	Approved:
82	82	______________________________
83	83	Date
84	84	______________________________
85	85	Governor