AB 1967: Food Insecurity Officer.

Session Year: 2023-2024
House: Assembly
Latest Version Date: 2024-04-16

Current Status:

Failed

(2024-08-15: In committee: Held under submission.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

Existing law establishes the Government Operations Agency, which consists of several departments, including, but not limited to, the State Personnel Board, the Department of General Services, and the Office of Administrative Law. Under existing law, the Government Operations Agency is under the direction of an executive officer known as the Secretary of Government Operations, who is appointed by, and holds office at the pleasure of, the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Existing law provides for the California Health and Human Services Agency, which includes the State Department of Social Services. Under existing law, the California Health and Human Services Agency is under the direction of an executive officer known as the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, who is appointed by, and holds office at the pleasure of, the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

This bill would create, within the Government Operations Agency, State Department of Social Services, a Food Insecurity Officer, to be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor. The Food Insecurity Officer would be required to report to the Secretary, or the Secretarys designee, of the Government Operations Agency. California Health and Human Services Agency. The bill would require the Food Insecurity Officer to coordinate and address food insecurity throughout state government operations and would authorize the Food Insecurity Officer to engage with state entities for these purposes, as specified. The bill would include among the Food Insecurity Officers duties advancing the benefit adequacy and enrollment rates of the CalFresh and California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), as specified. The bill would require the Food Insecurity Officer to consult with relevant state entities and stakeholders with expertise in food insecurity and related best practices in carrying out their duties. The bill would also require the Food Insecurity Officer, beginning January 1, 2026, to submit an annual report to the relevant policy and budget committees of the Legislature that includes, among other things, data on food insecurity, CalFresh and CFAP enrollment rates, and budgetary and policy recommendations, as specified.

Discussed in Hearing