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<ns0:Id>20250SB__102599INT</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-10</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Hurtado</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Hurtado</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Title 27 (commencing with Section 101000) to the Government Code, relating to food security. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>food security</ns0:RelatingClause>
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<ns0:Subject>Office of Food Security and Affordability. </ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Existing law declares that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient affordable and healthy food. Existing law establishes various food assistance programs, including, among others, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would establish the Office of Food Security and Affordability, an independent public entity not affiliated with another state agency, to be administered by a Director of Food Security and Affordability. The bill would require the director to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill would require the office to collaborate with
appropriate state agencies to, among other things, coordinate statewide outreach for food insecurity programs, establish and maintain a 24-hour toll-free hunger hotline, and establish best practices for food banks and emergency food providers, as specified. The bill would create the Food Security and Affordability Fund for the receipt and deposit of moneys from federal, state, local, or private sources, and upon appropriation by the Legislature, would authorize the office to use those moneys to implement and administer these provisions.</html:p>
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<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
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Food insecurity affects millions of Californians, including children, seniors, persons with disabilities, college students, and working families, and undermines health, educational attainment, and economic stability.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Multiple state agencies administer food and nutrition assistance programs, including, but not limited to, CalFresh, CalWORKs, the California Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children, school nutrition programs, and emergency food assistance programs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Despite the availability of these
programs, eligible Californians frequently experience barriers to access, including lack of awareness, administrative complexity, fragmented outreach, and inconsistent coordination among state and local entities.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Establishing an independent Office of Food Security and Affordability will improve coordination across programs, increase enrollment, reduce food waste, strengthen emergency response, and promote equitable access to food assistance statewide.
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<html:p>
(b)
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It is the intent of the Legislature to create an independent office to serve as a central coordinating entity for food security policy, outreach, research, and system alignment.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Title 27 (commencing with Section 101000) is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Government Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:LawHeading type="TITLE" id="id_C827001D-1168-474B-95DC-0FFE5C0EC25E">
<ns0:Num>27.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>Office of Food Security and Affordability</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:Num>101000.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>For purposes of this title, the following definitions apply:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Director” means the Director of Food Security and Affordability.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
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“Office” means the Office of Food Security and Affordability.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_FED32448-52FA-4FE6-88C5-4115047AE5DD">
<ns0:Num>101001.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
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There is in state government the Office of Food Security and Affordability, an independent public entity not affiliated with another state agency.
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<html:p>
(b)
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The office shall be independent of any supervision, direction, or control by another state agency, or by any officer or employee thereof, in the performance of its duties.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_DD7B46FC-DEFA-45B3-9CE1-23F8E20C5E43">
<ns0:Num>101002.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
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The administrator and chief executive officer of the office is the Director of Food Security and Affordability.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
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The director shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
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The director shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
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The director shall devote full time to the duties of the position and shall receive a salary as determined by law.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
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Any vacancy occurring in the position of director shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. If the director
dies, resigns, becomes ineligible to serve for any reason, or is removed from office, the Governor may appoint an acting director who shall serve until the appointment and confirmation of a successor, but in no event longer than six months, and who shall exercise all powers and duties of the director during that period.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_759B4E86-D3B4-4E81-BA5E-F56455C051F7">
<ns0:Num>101003.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>The office shall collaborate with appropriate state agencies to do all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Coordinate statewide outreach for food insecurity programs, including developing new initiatives and outreach campaigns and identifying best practices to increase enrollment in state-administered food assistance programs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Establish and maintain a 24-hour toll-free hunger hotline to make information about food assistance programs widely available to the public.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Support grant application processes related to food security for in-state providers and state agencies by monitoring available grant opportunities, recommending grant applications,
and assisting with the grant application process.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Coordinate communication with and among food banks and emergency food providers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Establish best practices for food banks and emergency food providers to reduce food waste and increase the distribution of fresh produce and protein-rich foods.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Cooperate with research organizations and institutions of higher education to monitor ongoing gap analyses identifying geographic or demographic areas underserved by existing food assistance programs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Work with state and community partners to develop and update a strategic plan to address identified gaps in food assistance coverage.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(h)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Oversee the development and implementation of
public-private partnerships to address food insecurity.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Coordinate assistance to address food insecurity during federally declared or state-declared emergencies.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(j)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Coordinate food insecurity programming and initiatives for institutions of higher education in collaboration with the federal Office of Postsecondary Education.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(k)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Develop new initiatives, establish outreach campaigns, and identify best practices to reach seniors, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(l)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Coordinate outreach efforts for individuals who are newly unemployed and may be eligible for food assistance programs.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_84F43F56-D409-4025-BB5B-B6F9F9602AAB">
<ns0:Num>101004.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_2ADDD7E2-F814-4B79-A3A4-4CD5732686E6">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>The director shall do all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Administer and organize the work of the office and establish any administrative subdivisions necessary for its efficient operation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
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Adopt rules and procedures and prescribe duties for the efficient conduct of the business and administration of the office.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Delegate authority to subordinate officers or employees as deemed necessary.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Appoint and remove staff, subject to applicable civil service laws, and, within available funding, appoint or contract with professional or technical personnel without regard to civil
service requirements when necessary to carry out the purposes of this title.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Maintain suitable headquarters and other offices as necessary.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Solicit and accept grants or funds from federal, state, local, or private sources.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Serve as a liaison between the office and relevant state agencies, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Public Health, the State Department of Education, and the Department of Food and Agriculture.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(h)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Perform any other functions necessary to carry out the purposes of this title.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_61D12B1B-5AEB-4712-9017-153BE4705410">
<ns0:Num>101005.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_E8F54DFD-698F-4125-A193-E96CDCB2CD2F">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Food Security and Affordability Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury for the receipt and deposit of moneys from federal, state, local, or private sources for the purposes of implementing and administering this title.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the office may use moneys in the fund to implement and administer this title.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_3725D236-5A6E-4C88-BB26-7D2FC5746FF8">
<ns0:Num>101006.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_98554A1D-18D3-48D3-8EB3-401EEC6A8E6C">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>Pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2), the director and any collaborating state agency may adopt regulations necessary to implement this title. </html:p>
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