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AB-1967 Food Insecurity Officer.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 04/16/2024 09:00 PM
AB1967:v98#DOCUMENT

Revised  April 24, 2024
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 16, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1967

Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Gipson)

January 30, 2024

An act to add Section 12817 to the Government Code, relating to government operations.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1967, as amended, Jackson. Food Insecurity Officer.

Existing law establishes the Government Operations Agency, which consists of several departments, including, but not limited to, the State Personnel Board, the Department of General Services, and the Office of Administrative Law. Under existing law, the Government Operations Agency is under the direction of an executive officer known as the Secretary of Government Operations, who is appointed by, and holds office at the pleasure of, the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Existing law provides for the California Health and Human Services Agency, which includes the State Department of Social Services. Under existing law, the California Health and Human Services Agency is under the direction of an executive officer known as the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, who is appointed by, and holds office at the pleasure of, the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
This bill would create, within the Government Operations Agency, State Department of Social Services, a Food Insecurity Officer, to be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor. The Food Insecurity Officer would be required to report to the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, of the Government Operations Agency. California Health and Human Services Agency. The bill would require the Food Insecurity Officer to coordinate and address food insecurity throughout state government operations and would authorize the Food Insecurity Officer to engage with state entities for these purposes, as specified. The bill would include among the Food Insecurity Officer’s duties advancing the benefit adequacy and enrollment rates of the CalFresh and California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), as specified. The bill would require the Food Insecurity Officer to consult with relevant state entities and stakeholders with expertise in food insecurity and related best practices in carrying out their duties. The bill would also require the Food Insecurity Officer, beginning January 1, 2026, to submit an annual report to the relevant policy and budget committees of the Legislature that includes, among other things, data on food insecurity, CalFresh and CFAP enrollment rates, and budgetary and policy recommendations, as specified.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 12817 is added to the Government Code, to read:

12817.
 (a) Within the Government Operations Agency, State Department of Social Services there shall be a Food Insecurity Officer. The Food Insecurity Officer shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor. The Food Insecurity Officer shall report to the Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, of the Government Operations Agency. California Health and Human Services Agency.
(b) The Food Insecurity Officer shall coordinate and address food insecurity across state government operations. The Food Insecurity Officer is hereby authorized to engage with state entities entities, including, but not limited to, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the State Department of Public Health, the California Department of Aging, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the State Department of Education for the purpose of addressing food insecurity and access within state entities.
(c) The Food Insecurity Officer’s duties shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Advance benefit adequacy by establishing strategy and plans for benefit level adequacy under the CalFresh Program (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 18900) of part Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code). Code) and the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) (Chapter 10.1 (commencing with Section 18930) of Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code). The Food Insecurity Officer shall focus on increasing enrollment for seniors, families with children, individuals leaving incarceration, students in postsecondary education settings, and formerly incarcerated individuals.
(2) Improve health outcomes by integrating nutrition and health, including through working to pilot coverage of medically tailored meals in the Medicare Program under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395 et seq.), testing Medicaid coverage of nutrition education, and other nutrition supports pursuant to a waiver pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 1115 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1315(a)), and expanding access of Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries to nutrition and obesity counseling.
(3) Improve food access by addressing access to food and affordability, improve the resilience and interconnection of food systems, and improve and increase access to free and nourishing charitable food resources sourced in California, including disaster response.
(4) Seek Collaborate with relevant departments to seek applicable federal waivers or exemptions, as appropriate.
(d) (1) The Food Insecurity Officer shall, beginning January 1, 2026, annually submit to the relevant policy and budget committees of the Legislature a report that complies with Section 9795 of the Government Code and contains all of the following information:
(A) Overall statewide food insecurity rates.
(B) Food insecurity rates among seniors, families with children, individuals leaving incarceration, and formerly incarcerated individuals, to the extent that data is available.
(C) Overall enrollment rates of individuals and households eligible for CalFresh and CFAP.
(D) Enrollment rates for eligible seniors, families with children, individuals leaving incarceration, and formerly incarcerated individuals in CalFresh and CFAP.
(E) Budgetary and policy recommendations to combat food insecurity in the state.
(F) Budgetary and policy recommendations to improve enrollment rates in state and federal food and nutrition programs.
(2) The Food Insecurity Officer shall consult with relevant state entities and stakeholders with expertise in food insecurity and related best practices in carrying out their duties, including the reporting requirements described in paragraph (1).

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REVISIONS:
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