Creating the healthy food site grant program to award grants for food retail or food system enterprises within one mile of a school in a designated food desert in an urban area.
Impact
By creating this grant program, HB 2771 aims to stimulate the establishment and growth of food retail businesses in areas that currently lack sufficient food options. This legislative measure is expected to improve food security for families, particularly those with children attending nearby schools. The bill reflects a growing recognition of the importance of addressing food deserts and encourages community-driven solutions to enhance access to healthy food.
Summary
House Bill 2771 establishes a healthy food site grant program aimed at enhancing food access in urban areas designated as food deserts. The bill specifically calls for the allocation of grants to food retail or food system enterprises that operate within a one-mile radius of a school located in these underprivileged zones. This initiative seeks to tackle nutritional disparities and promote healthier eating habits among children in urban settings where access to fresh and nutritious food is limited.
Contention
While the bill presents a proactive step towards alleviating food insecurity, there are potential points of contention regarding the implementation and oversight of the grant program. Critics may raise concerns about how grant recipients are selected, the monitoring of funds, and the long-term sustainability of the initiatives supported by these grants. Additionally, stakeholders may question whether the bill sufficiently addresses broader systemic issues contributing to food deserts, such as socioeconomic factors and urban planning challenges.
Requires school meal service providers, when procuring local and regional foods for students, to give purchasing preference to foods produced by in-State farmers and other food producers located within 100 miles of destination school.
Salad Bars in Schools Expansion ActThis bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish and implement a plan, including through a five-year program of competitive grants, to promote the use of salad bars in schools participating in the school lunch program.Priority in the award of grants may be given to entities (i.e., a school or a school food authority) that (1) serve schools in which at least 50% of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, (2) serve schools in food deserts, or (3) provide nutrition education to students. Under the bill, food desert is defined as a census tract with a substantial share of residents who live in low-income areas that have low levels of access to a grocery store or a healthy, affordable food retail outlet.Eligible entities must use the grant funds to award schools a one-time payment for the anticipated cost of installing a salad bar, including the purchase of any required durable equipment.USDA must also submit a report to Congress that includes recommendations for promoting and establishing more salad bars in schools.
Requires school meal service providers to give purchasing preference to foods produced by in-State farmers and other food producers located within State borders or within 100 miles of destination school.
Reforms the organizational structure for the Department of Transportation and Development including its duties, powers, and responsibilities of officers and employees (EN INCREASE SD EX See Note)
A bill for an act providing for certain business entities acting under the jurisdiction of the secretary of state by providing for the removal of information from a filing based on a sworn affidavit and administrative dissolution based on the response to interrogatories.(See HF 2678.)