H.B. No. 1622
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a grant program to provide children at risk of hunger or
  obesity with increased access to nutritious foods.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
  Chapter 25 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 25. CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD PROGRAM
         Sec. 25.001.  CREATION. Using funds appropriated for that
  purpose, the department by rule shall develop and implement a
  children's access to nutritious food program to award grants to
  nonprofit organizations for the purpose of allowing food banks to
  provide children at risk of hunger or obesity with access to
  nutritious food outside the school day.
         Sec. 25.002.  ELIGIBILITY.  A nonprofit organization is
  eligible to receive a grant under this chapter if the organization:
               (1)  has at least five years of experience coordinating
  a statewide network of food banks and charitable organizations that
  serves each county of this state;
               (2)  operates a program through a statewide network of
  food banks that provides children at risk of hunger or obesity with
  access to nutritious food outside the school day; and
               (3)  submits to the department, in the manner and time
  prescribed by the department, a detailed proposal for a program to
  purchase and distribute food using grant money to food banks or
  other charitable organizations that includes:
                     (A)  a schedule of projected costs for the
  program;
                     (B)  measurable goals for the program; and
                     (C)  a plan for evaluating the success of the
  program.
         Sec. 25.003.  USE OF FUNDS. A recipient of a grant under
  this chapter may use the grant only for the purchase of the
  following nutritious foods:
               (1)  fresh, frozen, or canned meats that are lean or low
  in fat content;
               (2)  dry or canned beans;
               (3)  nonfat or vegetarian items;
               (4)  low-fat nut and seed butters;
               (5)  dry-roasted or raw nuts and seeds;
               (6)  eggs;
               (7)  olive oil;
               (8)  canola oil;
               (9)  fresh, frozen, or canned fruits with no added
  sugar;
               (10)  fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables;
               (11)  juices that contain 100 percent fruit juice;
               (12)  foods that contain 100 percent whole grains;
               (13)  fresh, dry, canned, or ultra-high-temperature
  pasteurized milk that has a fat content of no greater than one
  percent;
               (14)  light yogurt; and
               (15)  low-fat cheese.
         Sec. 25.004.  REPORT. A nonprofit organization that
  receives a grant under this chapter must at regular intervals
  prescribed by the department report the results of the
  organization's program to the department. A report under this
  section for a prescribed reporting period must include:
               (1)  a statement of the amount of food purchased and
  distributed using grant funds;
               (2)  a statement of the leveraged value of grant funds;
               (3)  a list of specific programs that benefited from
  grant funds; and
               (4)  a detailed accounting of how grant funds were
  spent.
         Sec. 25.005.  RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules as
  necessary to implement this chapter.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as possible after the effective date of
  this Act, the Department of Agriculture shall implement the
  children's access to nutritious food program under Chapter 25,
  Agriculture Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1622 was passed by the House on April
  9, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 2, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1622 was passed by the Senate on May
  12, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor