ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
joint committee on hunger
Reconstitutes the Joint Legislative Committee on Hunger to discuss and review issues regarding food security programs and services.
Laws 1996, Chapter 352 established the Joint Legislative Committee on Hunger to serve as a public forum for the discussion of issues relating to food security. Food security is the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods; food insecurity is defined as the limited or uncertain availability of these foods. According to the Food Research and Action Center, approximately 13.8 percent of Arizona households are food insecure, which is higher than the national average of 10.5 percent. The Committee was also charged with advising the executive branch and private sector on current and potential programs and services to ensure food security. Additionally, it reviewed food security programs and services for efficiency and proper coordination of resources.
Last year, the Legislature continued the Committee until December 31, 1999. In the Department of Economic Security’s Status of Hunger in Arizona 1999 Report, the Hunger Advisory Council recommended the continuation of the Joint Legislative Committee on Hunger. S.B. 1312 reflects this recommendation by re-establishing the Committee until December 31, 2003.
The provisions of this bill relating to the reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses of public members of the Committee may have a cost.
1. Reconstitutes the 20-member Joint Legislative Committee on Hunger to serve as a public forum to discuss and review issues relating to food security services and programs.
2. Prescribes the membership of the Committee.
3. Prohibits state employees from serving as public members on the Committee.
4. Stipulates public members are not eligible for compensation, except for reimbursement of subsistence and travel expenses.
5. Requires the Legislature and participating departments to provide staff, administrative and technical support and meeting space.
6. Requires five members to be involved in food assistance programs.
7. Requires the Committee to report, by December 1 each year, on its findings and recommendations to the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, Secretary of State and Director of the Department of Library, Archives and Public Records.
8. Terminates the Committee on December 31, 2003.
9. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
February 4, 2000