HB3968 - Relating to the establishment of the School Meals Council to study and make recommendations regarding public school meal programs.

  89R10941 RDR-D     By: Plesa H.B. No. 3968       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the School Meals Council to study   and make recommendations regarding public school meal programs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Title 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding   Chapter 24 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 24. SCHOOL MEALS COUNCIL           Sec. 24.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                 (1)     "Council" means the School Meals Council   established under this chapter.                 (2)     "Public school meal program" means a program to   provide free or reduced-price meals, including breakfast and lunch,   to students in public schools. The term includes the national   school breakfast program under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42   U.S.C. Section 1773), the national school lunch program of free or   reduced-price lunches under 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq., and a   locally funded program to provide free or reduced-price meals to   each eligible student.           Sec.   24.002.     ESTABLISHMENT. The School Meals Council is   established to study issues regarding public school meal programs   and make recommendations to address those issues.           Sec.   24.003.     COMPOSITION. (a) The council is composed of   the following 13 members, who must have an interest in public school   meal programs:                 (1)  five members appointed by the governor as follows:                       (A)     one representative of the Texas Education   Agency whose duties include public school meal programs and school   meals paid for by students;                       (B)  one representative of the department;                       (C)     one representative of the Health and Human   Services Commission;                       (D)     one representative who participates in an   initiative by the governor focusing on healthy student outcomes;   and                       (E)     one representative of a nonprofit   organization with a demonstrated history of facilitating public   school meal programs;                 (2)     four members appointed by the lieutenant governor   as follows:                       (A)     one representative who is a school district   employee and who oversees the district's food and nutrition   programs and has experience coordinating with a local school health   advisory council;                       (B)     one representative of a supplier, grocery   chain, or other organization that contributes to public school   meals;                       (C)     one representative of the Texas A&M AgriLife   Extension Service; and                       (D)     one mental health professional specializing   in children's health; and                 (3)     four members appointed by the speaker of the house   of representatives who must be representatives of food banks   serving different populations across this state.           (b)     In making appointments under Subsections (a)(1), (2),   and (3), the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the   house of representatives shall coordinate to ensure that the   membership of the council reflects, to the extent possible, the   ethnic and geographic diversity of this state.           Sec.   24.004.     TERMS; VACANCY. (a)   A member of the council   serves a two-year term.           (b)     A member of the council may be reappointed to another   term on the council.           (c)     A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same   manner as the original appointment. The appropriate appointing   authority shall appoint the successor not later than the 30th day   after the date the vacancy occurs.           Sec.   24.005.     COUNCIL OFFICERS; COMMITTEES. (a) The   council members shall elect a chair and vice chair from among the   council's members to serve a two-year term.           (b)     The chair may appoint subcommittees and advisory   committees to assist with the council's duties.           Sec.   24.006.     PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a)   The council shall convene at least once every quarter. The council   may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill the council's duties   under this chapter. The council shall ensure that meetings are held   in locations across this state to allow maximum participation by   stakeholders and the opportunity for public feedback.           (b)     The council shall convene at the call of the chair or, if   the chair is unable to call a meeting or does not call at least one   meeting to meet the requirements of Subsection (a), at the call of   the vice chair.           (c)  The council shall:                 (1)     post the agenda for each council meeting on the   council's Internet website at least 48 hours before the meeting;   and                 (2)     not later than the 14th day after the date of each   meeting, post on the council's Internet website the minutes or   recording of the meeting required under Section 551.021, Government   Code.           (d)     The council is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,   Government Code. As an exception to Chapter 551, Government Code,   and other law, the council may meet by use of video conference call.   This subsection applies for purposes of constituting a quorum, for   purposes of voting, and for any other purpose allowing a member of   the council to fully participate in any meeting of the council. A   meeting held by use of video conference call:                 (1)     must be open to the public, which includes a video   broadcast of the meeting in real time through the council's   Internet website;                 (2)     must specify in the meeting notice the link to the   video broadcast described by Subdivision (1); and                 (3)     must provide two-way video communication between   all council members attending the meeting.           Sec.   24.007.     COMPENSATION. A member of the council is not   entitled to compensation for service on the council but is entitled   to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in   performing council duties.           Sec.   24.008.     COUNCIL PERSONNEL. The council may hire one   part-time employee to carry out the purposes of this chapter.           Sec.   24.009.     ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDING. (a)   Staff members of the department shall provide administrative   support for the council.           (b)     Funding for the administrative, staffing, and   operational expenses of the council shall be provided by   appropriation to the department for that purpose.           Sec. 24.010.  POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The council shall:                 (1)     research, study, and monitor issues related to   public school meal programs, including:                       (A)     participation rates for public school meal   programs;                       (B)  nutritional quality of public school meals;                       (C)     current research and best practices related   to addressing food insecurity, including patterns identified in   this state regarding food insecurity;                       (D)     the health and academic success of students   who participate in public school meal programs and any correlation   with increased or decreased funding requirements or other impacts   on public schools, including ad valorem taxes; and                       (E)  the impact of public school meal programs on:                             (i)  maternal morbidity and mortality; and                             (ii)  workforce health and productivity;                 (2)     analyze methods to maximize the use of state and   federal funding to expand school meal opportunities for public   school students;                 (3)     develop efficient processes to identify, apply   for, and allocate available federal funding to support public   school meal programs;                 (4)     analyze mechanisms to ensure compliance with   federal guidelines and timelines for funding for public school meal   programs to prevent missing funding opportunities for those   programs;                 (5)     identify financial, logistical, and   administrative barriers to implementing school meals for all public   school students and develop strategies to address those barriers;                 (6)     analyze the current oversight and implementation   strategy for public school meal programs to identify possible   methods to consolidate those responsibilities into a single state   agency;                 (7)     research other matters concerning public school   meal programs as necessary; and                 (8)  perform other duties consistent with this chapter.           (b)     In carrying out the council's powers and duties under   this section, the council may request reports and other information   relating to public school meal programs from the department, the   Texas Education Agency, and any other state agency. The council may   also consult with a faculty member of an institution of higher   education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, who has   published scholarly research relating to public school meal   programs.           Sec.   24.011.     ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than November 1 of   each year, the council shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant   governor, and each member of the legislature a report on the   council's findings under Section 24.010 and recommendations for   legislative or other action.           Sec.   24.012.     GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The department   may accept on behalf of the council a gift, grant, or donation from   any source to carry out the purposes of this chapter.           Sec.   24.013.     COUNCIL ABOLISHED; EXPIRATION. The council is   abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2033.   [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]