2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 3 — Agriculture and forestry
RS 3:299 — Louisiana sustainable local food policy council; creation; purpose; duties and responsibilities; membership; vacancies; compensation; termination

CHAPTER 3-E. LOUISIANA SUSTAINABLE LOCAL FOOD POLICY COUNCIL

§299. Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy Council; creation; purpose; duties and responsibilities; membership; vacancies; compensation; termination

A. There is hereby created the Louisiana Sustainable Local Food Policy Council, referred to in this Chapter as the "council", within the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, for the purpose of building a local food economy benefitting Louisiana by creating jobs, stimulating statewide economic development, preservation of farmlands and water resources, increasing consumer access to fresh and nutritious foods, and providing greater food security for all Louisianians.

B. The membership of the council shall be as follows:

(1) The commissioner of agriculture and forestry or his designee.

(2) A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

(3) A member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.

(4) The state superintendent of education or his designee.

(5) The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals or his designee.

(6) The secretary of the Department of Economic Development or his designee.

(7) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or his designee.

(8) The president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., or his designee.

(9) Three local food producers, at least one of whom shall be a sustainable local food producer, to be appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.

(10) One representative of a food bank located in Louisiana to be appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.

(11) One representative of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center appointed by the chancellor of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.

(12) One representative of the Southern University Agricultural Center appointed by the chancellor of the Southern University Agricultural Center.

(13) One representative of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.

(14) One registered dietician appointed by the Louisiana Dietetics Association.

(15) One representative of a business specializing in retail or direct food sales appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.

(16) One representative of a farmers market management organization appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.

(17) The director of the Prevention Research Center at Tulane University or his designee.

(18) One representative of a financial institution providing financing to local food producers appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.

(19) One commercial fisherman appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.

(20) One representative of the Louisiana Meat Processors Association appointed by the president of the association.

C. The commissioner shall appoint the chair of the council, and all other officers, if any, shall be elected by the membership of the council. The commissioner shall convene the council for its first meeting no later than December 1, 2010. Support staff for the task force shall be provided by the departments and agencies of the executive branch, as requested by the chair of the council. The council shall meet at regularly scheduled intervals, not less than quarterly, and at the call of the chair thereafter.

D. Members of the council shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

E. Council members shall not receive additional compensation or a per diem from the office of the commissioner for serving on the council; however, legislative members of the council shall receive the same per diem and travel allowance as is normally provided for meetings of legislative committees, payable out of funds appropriated for expenses of the legislature.

F. In developing sustainable local food policies for Louisiana, the council may consider the following policy issues:

(1) An assessment of the foods that are served to public school students under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast program and the possibility of increasing the amount of sustainable local food used in these programs.

(2) An analysis of the possibility of making sustainable local food available under public assistance programs, including the possibility of food stamp use at local farmers markets.

(3) An analysis of the potential of promoting urban gardens and backyard gardens for the purpose of improving the health of citizens, making use of idle urban property, and lowering food costs for Louisianians.

(4) An evaluation of the potential impacts that the production of sustainable local food would have on economic development, both the direct impacts for the producers of sustainable local food and the actual and potential indirect impacts.

(5) Identification of local and regional efforts that could provide information and training programs to assist entrepreneurs and local farmers pursuing opportunities related to a sustainable local food economy.

(6) Issues regarding the identification and development of solutions to regulatory and policy barriers to developing a strong sustainable local food economy.

(7) Issues regarding strengthening local infrastructure and entrepreneurial efforts related to a sustainable local food economy.

(8) Any other strategies, initiatives, or policy issues that the council deems necessary in carrying out its duties and responsibilities pursuant to this Chapter.

G. The council may seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations from public and private entities to use for the purpose of this Chapter.

H. The council may use existing programs that it determines to be useful in performing its duties under this Chapter.

I. No later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2012 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana, the council shall report its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals or proposals for administrative action, to the legislature and the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.

J. This council shall be null and void and terminate on June 30, 2012.

Acts 2010, No. 388, §1.