BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2384
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2384 (Leno)
As Amended August 7, 2006
Majority vote
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|ASSEMBLY: |51-29|(May 31, 2006) |SENATE: |25-13|(August 24, |
| | | | | |2006) |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Original Committee Reference: HEALTH
SUMMARY : Establishes a "Healthy Food Purchase" pilot program
(pilot program) to increase the sale and purchase of fresh
fruits and vegetables in low-income communities. Specifically,
this bill :
1)Requires the Department of Health Services (DHS), in
consultation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, to
develop up to seven pilot programs with the following
components:
a) Strategies aimed at small grocers in targeted low-income
neighborhoods to increase the offerings of fresh fruits and
vegetables in those communities. Requires DHS to provide
support or assistance to obtain refrigerated produce
display cases, as specified. Requires DHS to use available
federal funds for technical assistance where appropriate;
and,
b) Strategies aimed at food stamp recipients to increase
their purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables by making
those products more affordable, including the development
and implementation of financial incentives. Requires DHS,
in consultation with the State Department of Social
Services (DSS) to seek any necessary federal government
approvals to allow the use of the Food Stamp Electronic
Benefits Card, as specified.
2)Requires DHS, in developing the pilot program, to include the
following:
a) At least one county that is above the food stamp average
county participation;
b) At least one county that is below the food stamp average
AB 2384
Page 2
county participation;
c) At least one county with high above-average rates of
poverty, food insecurity, and obesity;
d) At least one urban county; and,
e) At least one rural county.
3)Requires DHS to consider the following in choosing counties to
participate in the program:
a) Level of need in the community;
b) Size of food stamp population;
c) Need for geographic diversity; and,
d) Availability of technology in targeted food retailers to
collect the data necessary to evaluate the program.
4)Requires DHS, in consultation with the United States (U.S.)
Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, to
develop a process for evaluating the effectiveness of the
pilot program. Requires DHS to make recommendations to the
Legislature regarding the continuation of the pilot program,
and any state and federal policy changes needed to support the
goals of the pilot program.
5)Requires the evaluation to examine the impact of the various
strategies employed in the pilot program on the purchase of
fresh produce and on any increase in retailer space devoted to
the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the effect this
has on retailer profitability. Requires the evaluation to
develop control groups to test alternative to the reliance on
uniform product codes for identification of fresh produce
deemed eligible for financial incentives. Requires DHS to
contract with an independent external evaluator for the
evaluation.
6)Makes implementation of this bill contingent upon an
appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute or
the receipt of federal funding.
7)Sunsets the provisions of this bill on January 1, 2011.
8)Makes legislative findings and declarations on the importance
of eating healthy and making available fresh fruits and
vegetables.
The Senate amendments require DHS to consult with DSS when
AB 2384
Page 3
seeking federal approvals for the use of the Food Stamp
Electronic Benefits Card, as specified. Make other technical
non-substantive changes.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
to the version passed by the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee
analysis:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Fund
Technical assistance $ 1,000 $ 1,000 $ 1000
GF
U.S. Department of Agriculture programs may provide financing
for most components of the program. Total annualized cost to the
federal government estimated to be $10 million.
COMMENTS : According to the California Food Policy Advocates,
the sponsor of this bill, this bill strengthens California's
efforts to prevent obesity by increasing access to fresh fruit
and vegetables in low-income communities where fruit and
vegetables typically are unavailable or costly. It states that
there is currently no state law or policy aimed at increasing
the availability of fruit and vegetables in low-income
neighborhoods. California, like the other states, has a growing
obesity problem, where approximately 60% of our adults and over
25% of our children are obese or overweight. The consequences
of obesity are devastating to individuals, characteristically
involving diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer and
other debilitating diseases. Physicians, nutritionists, and
other experts recognize the importance of a diet rich in fruit
and vegetables as one key strategy in preventing obesity.
Unfortunately, as countless studies document, residents of
low-income neighborhoods generally lack access to fruit and
vegetables.
Analysis Prepared by : Rosielyn Pulmano / HEALTH / (916)
319-2097 FN: 0016760