6343-S AMH KRET H5497.1

SSB 6343  - H AMD TO AGNR COMM AMD (H-5408.1/10)1292
     By Representative Kretz

WITHDRAWN 03/05/2010

     Beginning on page 1, after line 2 of the amendment, strike all material through "RCW." on page 6, line 6, and insert the following:

"NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The Washington food policy forum is established for the purpose of identifying and developing food system goals for the state and to develop recommendations to advance goals.
     (2) Recommendations shall include benchmarks and criteria for measuring progress in achieving each goal.
     (3) Recommendations shall consider, but not be limited to, ways in which the following may help achieve each of the five goals:
     (a) Increased collaboration and communication between state agencies;
     (b) Increased collaboration and communication between local, state, and federal agencies;
     (c) A review of: (i) The future of farming study that was coordinated by the department of agriculture with regard to the goals established in this section; (ii) reports issued by the office of farmland preservation with regard to the goals established in this section; (iii) data and analysis of food insecurity across the state as reported by the department of health behavioral risk factors surveillance surveys; and (iv) other studies relevant to the goals of this act;
     (d) Improvements to state or federal laws or regulations relevant to the food system and food security in the state;
     (e) Improvements in state or federal program implementation relevant to the food system and food security in the state;
     (f) Identifying additional federal, state, local, and private investments needed to accomplish the recommendations.
     (4) In developing its recommendations, the forum:
     (a) Shall coordinate with the office of farmland preservation to avoid duplication of effort; and
     (b) Shall solicit public input.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) All members of the Washington food policy forum are voting members.
     (2) The following agencies are the initial members of the Washington food policy forum convened under section 3(1) of this act. Other agencies may be invited to participate:
     (a) The director of the department of agriculture or the director's designee;
     (b) The secretary of the department of health or the secretary's designee;
     (c) The secretary of the department of social and health services or the secretary's designee; and
     (d) The director of the state conservation commission or the director's designee.
     (3) Stakeholder members of the forum may be invited to participate by the initiating agencies. Stakeholders should represent interests relating to food production and distribution, markets and purchasing, nutrition, children's health, and other issues deemed appropriate by the initiating agencies.
     (4) The public members of the forum shall serve without compensation from state funds. Members of the forum may receive reimbursement from the forum for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 if funds for forum operations are available as determined by the director of the office of financial management.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The governor shall convene an organizational meeting of the food policy forum. At its first meeting, the forum must, at a minimum: (a) Identify the goals for the forum; (b) identify and establish work groups that will organize to address the goals; and (c) establish a reporting schedule to accomplish the purpose of this act.
     (2) No state agency or state university may be compelled to incur expenses in connection with the operation of the forum.
     (3) The forum shall report on the initial work of the forum, including any findings and recommendations by December 1, 2010. Thereafter, the forum shall submit an annual report that includes recommendations and progress on benchmarks by December 1st each year. These reports shall be submitted to the office of the governor and to the offices of the chief clerk of the house of representatives and the secretary of the senate.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This chapter expires July 1, 2015.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   Sections 1 through 4 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 15 RCW."

--- END ---