AGRICULTURE CODE CHAPTER 23. FOOD SYSTEM SECURITY

AGRICULTURE CODE

TITLE 2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 23. FOOD SYSTEM SECURITY

Sec. 23.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Council" means the Texas food system security and resiliency planning council.

(2) "Office" means:

(A) the office of food system security and resiliency if that office is established as a division within the department by an Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023; or

(B) the food and nutrition division of the department if the office of food system security and resiliency is not established as a division within the department by an Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.

Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 601 (H.B. 3323), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 23.002. TEXAS FOOD SYSTEM SECURITY AND RESILIENCY PLANNING COUNCIL. (a) The office shall establish the Texas food system security and resiliency planning council. The council is composed of the following members:

(1) three members appointed by the governor;

(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(4) one member of the Texas Animal Health Commission appointed by the governor;

(5) one member appointed by the commissioner to represent food banks;

(6) one member appointed by the commissioner to represent nonprofit organizations that provide home delivered meals;

(7) two members appointed by the commissioner to represent agricultural producer organizations, marketing associations organized under Chapter 52, or farmers' cooperative societies incorporated under Chapter 51;

(8) the assistant commissioner of agriculture for the food and nutrition division as a nonvoting member;

(9) the director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service as a nonvoting member; and

(10) one nonvoting member appointed by the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to represent the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the federal special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and the supplemental nutrition assistance program-education.

(b) A person appointed under Subsection (a) must have experience in an industry or economic sector involving food production or food sales or in a related industry or economic sector.

(d) A council member serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

(e) The governor shall designate a chair of the council from the members the governor appoints. The lieutenant governor shall designate a vice chair of the council from the members the lieutenant governor appoints.

(f) The council shall meet at least once quarterly or more frequently at the call of the chair.

(g) A member of the council is not entitled to compensation or reimbursement for expenses incurred in performing council duties.

(h) The council shall:

(1) give guidance to the office; and

(2) review the state food system security plan developed under Section 23.003.

Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 601 (H.B. 3323), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 23.003. STATE FOOD SYSTEM SECURITY PLAN. (a) The office shall develop a state food system security plan. The plan must:

(1) provide for the orderly development and management of food system security throughout this state, including ensuring sufficient food is available at a reasonable cost to:

(A) ensure public health, safety, and welfare;

(B) further economic development; and

(2) account for times of severe drought conditions, natural disasters, man-made disasters, or other calamities; and

(3) include legislative recommendations that are needed or desirable to facilitate the resilience and availability of food in this state.

(b) In developing the plan, the office shall seek the advice of:

(1) the Department of State Health Services; and

(2) the Parks and Wildlife Department.

(1) review and revise as necessary the plan developed under Subsection (a) at least once every five years; and

(2) deliver the plan to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chair of the appropriate committees in each house of the legislature.

Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 601 (H.B. 3323), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 23.004. FOOD SYSTEM SECURITY PLANNING FUND. (a) In this section, "planning fund" means the food system security planning fund.

(b) The planning fund is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund and consists of:

(1) appropriations of money to the planning fund by the legislature;

(2) gifts, grants, including federal grants, and other donations received for the planning fund; and

(3) interest earned on the investment of money in the planning fund.

(d) The office may accept gifts, grants, or donations from any source that are made for the purposes of this section. Money received under this subsection shall be deposited in the planning fund.

Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 601 (H.B. 3323), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

For expiration of this section, see Subsection (b).

Sec. 23.005. BIANNUAL REPORT. (a) The department shall report to the legislature biannually on the activities of the office and council. The report must contain a description of the activities of the council under this chapter.

(b) This section expires January 14, 2025.

Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 601 (H.B. 3323), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 23.006. RULES. The department shall adopt rules necessary to administer this chapter.

Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 601 (H.B. 3323), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.