BILL NUMBER: AB 581	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  505
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 6, 2011
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 5, 2011
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 31, 2011
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 30, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 11, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 27, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member John A. Pérez
   (Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Galgiani and Mitchell)
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Alquist)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano,
Atkins, Beall, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford, Buchanan,
Butler, Campos, Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro, Davis, Dickinson, Eng,
Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Gordon, Hall, Hayashi, Hueso, Lara, Ma,
Mansoor, Monning, Pan, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Portantino, Skinner,
Solorio, Swanson, Wieckowski, Williams, and Yamada)

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2011

   An act to add and repeal Article 3 (commencing with Section
104660) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 103 of the Health and
Safety Code, relating to public health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 581, John A. Pérez. Public health: food access.
   Existing law requires the Department of Food and Agriculture,
headed by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, to promote and
protect the agricultural industry of the state.
   This bill would, until July 1, 2017, create the California Healthy
Food Financing Initiative. It would require, by July 1, 2012, the
Secretary of Food and Agriculture to prepare recommendations, to be
presented upon request to the Legislature, regarding actions that
need to be taken to promote food access in the state. The bill would
establish the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative Council
and would require the council to implement the initiative, as
specified. The bill would require the department to establish an
advisory group, as specified.
   The bill would create the California Healthy Food Financing
Initiative Fund in the State Treasury, to be comprised of federal,
state, philanthropic, and private funds, for the purpose of expanding
access to healthy foods in underserved communities and, to the
extent practicable, to leverage other funding, as specified. Moneys
in the fund would be expended upon appropriation by the Legislature.



THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) California has some of the most productive farmlands in the
world. California's farmlands produce more than 350 commodities and
food items.
   (b) Access to healthy food items is a basic human right. Lack of
access to healthy, affordable food items may result in higher levels
of obesity and other diet-related diseases. Communities without
access to affordable, quality, and nutritious foods are known as food
deserts.
   (c) Opportunities for increasing the number of grocery stores,
urban and rural farm stands, farmers' markets, community gardens,
direct farm to institution, and direct farmer to consumer marketing
activities in underserved communities should be actively pursued and
fostered to ensure that all Californians have access to healthy
foods.
   (d) Ensuring access to nutritional foods for Californians who
currently reside in food desert communities means improved economic
health as well as boosting a community's physical health and
well-being. Increasing access to healthy foods means new jobs and
opportunities in the areas of food distribution, retail sales, and
store management.
  SEC. 2.  Article 3 (commencing with Section 104660) is added to
Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 103 of the Health and Safety Code, to
read:

      Article 3.  California Healthy Food Financing Initiative


   104660.  This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the
California Healthy Food Financing Initiative.
   104661.  (a) There is hereby created the California Healthy Food
Financing Initiative Council, within the office of the Treasurer
which shall consist of the following members:
   (1) The Treasurer or his or her designee.
   (2) The Secretary of Food and Agriculture or his or her designee.
   (3) The Secretary of California Health and Human Services or his
or her designee.
   (4) The Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development or his or her
designee.
   (b)  The council shall implement the California Healthy Food
Financing Initiative (CHFFI) and shall be chaired by the Treasurer or
his or her designee. This initiative is intended to expand access to
nutritious foods in underserved, urban, and rural communities and to
eliminate food deserts in California.
   (c) The council shall have all of the following duties:
   (1) Developing financing options using public or private moneys
and resources, to support access to healthy foods for all
Californians.
   (2) Developing program parameters, including, but not limited to,
all of the following:
   (A) Defining eligible entities for participation.
   (B) Developing minimum eligibility thresholds for participation.
   (C) Establishing minimum and maximum levels of financial
assistance.
   (3) Partnering with federal, state, or local government agencies,
nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic programs to further the
purposes of the initiative.
   (4) Reviewing recommendations of the advisory group, established
pursuant to Section 104662.
   (5) Providing updates to the Legislature as requested.
   (d) The council shall adopt all rules and regulations necessary to
implement the initiative.
   104662.  (a) By July 1, 2012, the Secretary of Food and
Agriculture shall prepare recommendations, to be presented upon
request of the Legislature, regarding actions that need to be taken
to promote food access in the state.
   (b) The Secretary of Food and Agriculture may establish an
advisory group, not to exceed 21 members, to assist the agencies in
complying with the requirements of subdivision (a). If established,
the advisory group shall consist of representatives from the
Legislature, food policy advocates, representatives from the grocery
industry and financial institutions, food systems researchers,
representatives from the agricultural industry, representatives from
underserved communities, representatives from nonprofit and
philanthropic organizations with expertise in this area,
representatives of health care providers, and others.
   104663.  (a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury the
California Healthy Food Financing Initiative Fund, which shall be
comprised of federal, state, philanthropic, and private funds for the
purpose of expanding access to healthy foods in underserved
communities.
   (b) Moneys in the fund shall be expended upon appropriation by the
Legislature, and shall be used, to the extent practicable, to
leverage other funding, including, but not limited to, new markets
tax credits, federal and foundation grant programs, incentives
available to designated enterprise zones, the federal Specialty Crop
Block Grant Program, and funding from private sector financial
institutions pursuant to the federal Community Reinvestment Act.
   104664.  This article shall remain in effect only until July 1,
2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends
that date.