BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 2413
                                                                  Page  1

          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 2413 (John A. Pèrez)
          As Amended  August 19, 2014
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |75-0 |(May 19, 2014)  |SENATE: |30-1 |(August 21,    |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2014)          |
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           Original Committee Reference:    AGRI.

          SUMMARY  :  Creates the Office of Farm to Fork (OFF) within the  
          California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), both 1) to  
          work with various entities involved in promoting food access,  
          and 2) to increase the amount of agricultural products available  
          to schools and underserved communities in the state of  
          California (state).

           The Senate Amendments  :  

           1)Add clarifying language on available funding.
           
           2)Require CDFA, until January 1, 2020, to submit a financial  
            report to the Legislature, if funds are received or expended  
            in the Farm to Fork Account.
           
          EXISTING LAW  establishes the California Healthy Food Financing  
          Initiative for the purpose of promoting healthy food access in  
          the state.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Senate Committee on  
          Appropriations, costs to CDFA to create a new account within the  
          Food and Agriculture Fund would be minor and absorbable.

           COMMENTS  :  Farm to Fork (F2F) is a term that encompasses efforts  
          that bring local or regionally produced foods to people who want  
          or need access to these products.  F2F is currently being  
          accomplished in many different ways in California.  It can be  
          seen in farmer's markets, community supported agriculture (CSA),  
          and other venues where people can buy food directly from  
          growers.  Other examples are farm to school programs that  
          increase access and awareness for fresh fruits and vegetables  
          through the use of school gardens and education, and community  
          and urban gardens that help communities grow their own foods.   








                                                                  AB 2413
                                                                  Page  2

          At the state level, CDFA, the California Department of Education  
          and the California Department of Public Health are working on  
          F2F issues. 

          By creating OFF within CDFA to coordinate with state and federal  
          agencies, along with private and public organizations, this bill  
          will help streamline F2F efforts.  CDFA is uniquely situated to  
          administer OFF due to CDFA's knowledge of the agricultural  
          industry, and CDFA's ability to bring farmers together with a  
          variety of public and private organizations to increase the  
          supply of healthy food.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916)  
          319-2084 


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