CA AB 1961

Title: End Hunger in California Act of 2024.
Author: Buffy Wicks

Summary
AB 1961, as amended, Wicks. End Hunger in California Act of 2024. Existing law establishes the Strategic Growth Council in state government consisting of various state agency heads and 3 public members. Existing law requires the council to identify and review activities and funding programs of state agencies that may be coordinated to improve air and water quality, improve natural resource protection, increase the availability of affordable housing, improve transportation, meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, encourage sustainable land use planning, and revitalize urban and community centers in a sustainable manner. Existing law requires the council to manage and award grants and loans to support the planning and development of sustainable communities.Under existing law, the policy of the state is that every human being has the right to access sufficient, affordable, and healthy food. Existing law establishes various food assistance programs, including, among others, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, 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 require the Strategic Growth Council, in consultation with specified entities, to appoint and convene the End Hunger in California Master Plan Task Force to make recommendations for future comprehensive strategies aimed at addressing access to healthy and culturally relevant food for all Californians. The bill would require the task force to meet at least quarterly and to be composed of up to 40 members, from specified agencies and with specified knowledge and expertise in various food-related subject matters. The bill would authorize the council, subject to an appropriation from the Legislature for this purpose, to provide members with a reasonable per diem allowance for each day of attendance and reimbursement for actual and necessary travel expenses incurred in connection with their official duties involving the task force. The bill would also authorize the task force to form ad hoc advisory committees to learn more about specific issues regarding recommending future comprehensive strategies aimed at addressing access to healthy and culturally relevant food.The bill would require the council to serve as the lead agency for developing the End Hunger in California Master Plan and assist the task force in carrying out its duties. The bill would authorize the council to use existing resources and to accept and expend nongovernmental funds for its work with the task force.The bill would require the plan to be distributed to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2026, and to include specified actions, among others, identification of barriers to bringing retailers to specific locations, inclusion of a strategy to maximize eligible individuals’ participation in specified federal and state nutritional programs, identification and facilitation of stakeholder engagement, and analysis of state programs currently investing in regional food systems. The bill would make related findings and declarations.

Status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

Bill Documents
CA AB 1961 - 03/21/24 - Amended Assembly
03/21/24 - CA AB 1961 (03/21/24 - Amended Assembly)