A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Oklahoma Food Security Act”.
B. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Food Security Committee to continue until December 31, 2012. The purpose of the Committee is to identify, implement and monitor ways to:
1. Coordinate services among federal, state, faith-based and nonprofit organizations;
2. Extend existing programs and outreach efforts to serve more people;
3. Involve schools in identifying and improving students’ access to sufficient and nutritious food;
4. Connect eligible hungry people with existing programs;
5. Support community food security initiatives in Oklahoma communities and encourage food production on the local level;
6. Encourage the use of home and community gardens for food production;
7. Support efforts to provide farmers’ markets with the technology for accepting food stamps;
8. Collect and compile detailed county and community data relating to food security issues;
9. Apply for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs in Oklahoma;
10. Support creative transportation methods for connecting at-risk populations with nutritious foods; and
11. Eliminate sales tax at farmers’ markets.
C. The Committee shall be composed of seventeen (17) members as follows:
1. The Secretary of Health or a designee;
2. The Director of the Department of Human Services or a designee;
3. The State Commissioner of Health or a designee;
4. The Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or a designee;
5. The Director of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority or a designee;
6. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction or a designee;
7. The Secretary of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry or a designee;
8. The Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce or a designee;
9. One member appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by a nonprofit regional food bank organization representing central and western Oklahoma;
10. One member appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by a nonprofit regional food bank organization representing eastern Oklahoma;
11. One member appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by a statewide organization of child advocates;
12. Two members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate representing faith-based organizations involved in hunger programs;
13. One member appointed by the President Pro Tempore from a list submitted by a comprehensive antipoverty agency whose mission is to help families in need achieve self-sufficiency;
14. One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from a list submitted by a statewide organization representing senior citizens;
15. One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from a list submitted by a nonprofit educational organization that assists in developing sustainable food and farming systems; and
16. One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from a list submitted by a nonprofit organization committed to effective solutions and key policies which affect hunger and poverty.
D. The members of the Committee shall select a chair and vice-chair from among its membership. A quorum of the Committee shall be required for any final action of the Committee.
E. The Committee may meet as often as may be required in order to perform the duties imposed upon it.
F. The meetings of the Committee shall be subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.
G. Members of the Committee shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties by their respective agency pursuant to the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act. Members appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be reimbursed by the Department of Human Services pursuant to the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
H. Staff support for the Committee shall be provided by the Department of Human Services.
I. The Committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate by December 31 of each year.
Added by Laws 2007, c. 95, § 1, eff. July 1, 2007. Amended by Laws 2008, c. 414, § 1, eff. July 1, 2008.