Bill Text: IN HB1375 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Local food and farm task force.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-01-18 - First reading: referred to Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development [HB1375 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2011-HB1375-Introduced.html
Citations Affected: IC 5-28-5.5.
Synopsis: Local food and farm task force. Establishes the local food
and farm task force to create a plan to expand and support a system
under which raw agricultural products are produced, processed,
distributed, and sold.
Effective: July 1, 2011.
January 18, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture and Rural
Development.
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A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state
offices and administration.
Chapter 5.5. Local Food and Farm Task Force
Sec. 1. (a) As used in this chapter, "task force" refers to the Indiana local food and farm task force established by subsection (b).
(b) The Indiana local food and farm task force is established to develop a plan with policy and funding recommendations to:
(1) expand and support a system under which raw agricultural products are produced, processed, distributed, and sold; and
(2) assess and overcome obstacles to increasing locally grown food production.
(c) The task force shall be staffed by the Indiana economic development corporation. Members of the task force serve for a term of two (2) years. The following individuals serve on the task
force:
(1) The director of the Indiana state department of
agriculture or the director's designee, who shall serve as
chairperson of the task force.
(2) The secretary of commerce or the secretary's designee.
(3) The secretary of family and social services or the
secretary's designee.
(4) The commissioner of the state department of health or the
commissioner's designee.
(5) The state veterinarian or the state veterinarian's designee.
(6) Two (2) farmers who produce, process, and sell food in
their local communities.
(7) One (1) processor of local food.
(8) One (1) distributor of local food.
(9) One (1) representative of a nonprofit organization
involved in the production or distribution of food.
Members of the task force described in subdivisions (6) through (9)
shall be appointed by the governor.
(d) The expenses of the task force shall be paid from
appropriations made to the Indiana economic development
corporation.
(e) Each member of the task force who is not a state employee
is entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by
IC 4-10-11-2.1(b). The member is also entitled to reimbursement
for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and for other
expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties
as provided in the state policies and procedures established by the
Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget
agency.
(f) Each member of the task force who is a state employee is
entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses as provided under
IC 4-13-1-4 and for other expenses actually incurred in connection
with the member's duties as provided in the state policies and
procedures established by the Indiana department of
administration and approved by the budget agency.
(g) The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members
appointed to the task force under (c)(6) through (c)(9) are required
for the task force to take action on any measure, including final
reports.
Sec. 2. The task force shall develop a plan that includes:
(1) policies; and
(2) funding recommendations;
for expanding and supporting systems under which crops are
grown, harvested, and sold as food in the same locality. The
systems must be designed to assess and overcome obstacles to
increasing production and sales of locally grown food.
Sec. 3. (a) The task force shall prepare and submit an interim
plan to the general assembly not later than October 1, 2012, and a
final plan not later than October 1, 2013, in an electronic format
under IC 5-14-6.
(b) The plan must:
(1) identify land preservation and acquisition opportunities
for local agriculture in rural, suburban, and urban areas;
(2) identify farmer training and development programs and
make recommendations to expand such training programs;
(3) identify financial incentives, technical support, and
training necessary to help farmers make the transition to local
production by minimizing financial losses during the three (3)
year transition period required in the certification process
under United States Department of Agriculture standards and
helping with record keeping requirements;
(4) identify strategies and funding needs to make fresh and
affordable foods more accessible, both in rural and urban
communities, with an emphasis on creating new food outlets
in Indiana;
(5) identify the financial and technical support necessary to
build connections among landowners, farmers, buyers, and
consumers;
(6) identify the financial and technical support necessary to
build a local food infrastructure for processing, storage, and
distribution;
(7) identify the financial and technical support necessary to
develop new food and agriculture related businesses for local
food production and distribution, including:
(A) on-farm processing;
(B) micromarkets;
(C) incubator kitchens; and
(D) marketing and communications businesses;
(8) identify the financial and technical support necessary:
(A) to expand the development of farmers' markets,
roadside markets, and local grocery stores in unserved and
underserved areas;
(B) to create year round public markets in large
communities; and
(C) to attract processing, distribution, and freezer storage
facilities;
(9) research, identify, and coordinate best practices and
opportunities for the development of local food production;
(10) identify opportunities to educate the public and
producers about the benefits of systems under which crops
are grown, harvested, and sold as food in the same locality;
and
(11) identify legal impediments to local food production and
develop recommendations to remedy the impediments.
Sec. 4. This chapter expires December 31, 2013.
