California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1661

Introduced by Assembly Member Bonta

February 12, 2014

An act to add Chapter 6.4 (commencing with Section 51043) to Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code, relating to local government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1661, as introduced, Bonta. The Healthy Options for Everyone (HOPE) Act of 2014.

The Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Act authorizes a city, county, or city and county to establish by ordinance an Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone within its boundaries for the purpose of entering into enforceable contracts with landowners, on a voluntary basis, for the use of vacant, unimproved, or blighted lands for small-scale agricultural use.

This bill would enact the Healthy Options for Everyone (HOPE) Act of 2014, and authorize a city, county, or city and county, after a public hearing, to establish by ordinance a HOPE Incentive Zone within its boundaries for the purpose of increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, and other grown foods within the zone. This bill would require a city, county, or city and county to analyze specific factors, including, but not limited to, population density and transportation, when considering whether to establish a HOPE Incentive Zone within an area.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

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

SECTION 1.  

Chapter 6.4 (commencing with Section 51043)
is added to Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code,
to read:

 

Chapter  6.4. Healthy Options for Everyone (HOPE) Act
of 2014

 

51043.  

This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the
Healthy Options for Everyone (HOPE) Act of 2014.

51043.1.  

(a) A city, county, or city and county may, after a
public hearing, establish by ordinance a HOPE Incentive Zone
within its boundaries for the purpose of increasing the availability
of fresh fruits and vegetables, and other grown foods.

(b) A city, county, or city and county shall analyze the following
factors within a geographic area when considering whether to
establish a HOPE Incentive Zone within that area pursuant to
subdivision (a):

(1) Transportation.

(2) Population density.

(3) Income of population.

(4) Whether the area qualifies as a “food desert” by the United
States Department of Agriculture.

(5) Percentage of population that participates in food assistance
programs, including, but not limited to, a free school lunch
program.

(6) Percentage of population with dietary-related illnesses.

(7) Neglected real property.

51043.2.  

A city, county, or city and county may, after
establishing a HOPE Incentive Zone pursuant to Section 51043.1,
enact an ordinance to create incentives for small businesses,
farmers’ markets, grocers, and other businesses that provide fresh
fruits and vegetables, and other grown foods to conduct business
within the zone.