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SB-108 State Healthy Food Access Policy.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 03/17/2021 09:00 PM
SB108:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  March 17, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 108

Introduced by Senator Hurtado

January 05, 2021

An act to add Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 18700) to Part 6 of Division 9 of of, and to repeal Section 18701 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to food access.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 108, as amended, Hurtado. State Healthy Food Access Policy.
Existing law establishes various food assistance programs, including, among others, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, formerly the Food Stamp Program, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.
This bill would declare that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food. The bill would require all relevant state agencies, including the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the State Department of Public Health, to consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and grant criteria are pertinent to the distribution of food and nutrition assistance. The bill would also require, by January 1, 2023, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Department of Conservation to collaboratively submit a report to the Legislature relating to food access and recommendations to increase the availability of sufficient affordable and healthy food.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
(b) The four guideposts in determining food security are availability, stability of supply, access, and use.
(c) Nations and states that have dependable trade relationships and sustainable natural resources are more successful in providing food security.
(d) Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Californians, as many as approximately 1 in 10, were experiencing food insecurity. This number has increased substantially since that time.
(e) The world’s population is expected to grow significantly in the coming years and there is growing concern that global crop yields are not increasing at the rate required to support that population growth.
(f) Climate change is already, and is likely to continue, threatening food production and certain aspects of food quality globally, as well as food prices and distribution systems.
(g) Crop yields are predicted to decline because of the combined effects of changes in rainfall, severe weather patterns, increasing competition from weeds, and pest infestations. Livestock and fish production are also projected to decline. Prices are expected to rise in response to declining food production and increases in the price of petroleum, which is used in pesticides and fertilizers and for transporting food.
(h) Adaptation activities are needed to reduce impacts of the anticipated food security challenges.

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

 Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 18700) is added to Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:
CHAPTER  9.5. State Healthy Food Access Policy

18700.
 (a) It is hereby declared to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food.
(b) All relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture Agriculture, and the State Department of Public Health, shall consider this state policy when revising, adopting, or establishing policies, regulations, and grant criteria when those policies, regulations, and criteria are pertinent to the distribution of food and nutrition assistance.
(c) This section does not expand any obligation of the state to provide food or nutrition assistance or to require the expenditure of additional resources to develop food infrastructure.

18701.
 (a) By January 1, 2023, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Department of Conservation shall collaboratively submit a report to the Legislature that addresses all of the following:
(1) The number of people who currently use food assistance programs and the number of people predicted to use food assistance programs in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, and 50 years.
(2) The barriers to accessing food assistance currently faced by low-income Californians.
(3) The steps the state is taking to address any barriers to accessing food assistance.
(4) The steps the state can take to decrease the cost of food now and in the future.
(5) The number of people that agricultural enterprises in California feed, both inside and outside of the state.
(6) The types of food people in California primarily consume.
(7) The anticipated impact changing water needs, changing weather, and changing climate patterns will have on the state’s ability to ensure people have sufficient food.
(8) An identification of crops that may survive better in the changing climate.
(9) The departments’ recommendations on all of the following:
(A) How to mitigate any anticipated negative impacts to the food supply from changing water needs, changing weather, and changing climate patterns.
(B) The feasibility and necessity of shifting land use to address the impact of changing water needs, changing weather, and changing climate patterns.
(C) Any other topic related to increasing the availability of sufficient affordable and healthy food.
(b) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section is repealed on January 1, 2027.