h_agr_2017a_2017-03-06t13:30:53z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/06/2017

Location: HCR 0107

01:30 PM -- HB 17-1192



Speaker Duran and Representative McLachlan, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 17-1192, concerning the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council. The bill repeals the Farm-to-School Coordination Task Force in the Department of Agriculture and combines certain duties of this task force with the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council. The terms of the existing membership of the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council expire under the bill and new membership must be appointed by August 31, 2017. The duties of the council are expanded to include additional collaboration, coordination, and outreach with schools, farmers, food producers, state and federal agencies, consumers, research and data collection on Food Systems and food access, and other tasks to provide advice and assistance to those involved in the Food Systems. The Food Systems Advisory Council is continued beyond its current September 1, 2018, repeal date through September 1, 2022. Speaker Duran and Representative McLachlan responded to questions from the committee.



01:41 PM -- Sarah Kurz, LiveWell Colorado, spoke in support of the bill and distributed letters of support for the bill from agricultural producers and Colorado State University (Attachment A). Ms. Kurz responded to questions from the committee regarding the type of agriculture products that will be a part of the program, the staffing of the advisory council, and the fiscal impact of the bill.



170306 AttachA.pdf



01:59 PM



Speaker Duran responded to further questions from the committee regarding the advisory council and discussed similar programs in other states. The speaker also spoke to the fiscal impact of the bill and the reporting requirement in the bill.



02:01 PM -- Yelana Love, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions from the committee regarding the sunset date of the advisory council.



02:02 PM -- Allen Lewis, Natural Grocers, spoke in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



02:18 PM



Speaker Duran and Representative McLachlan responded to further questions from the committee.



02:22 PM



Mr. Lewis responded to questions concerning the distribution of agricultural products under the advisory council program and how that program helps producers in the state.



02:24 PM -- Meg Caley, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and National Youth Farmers Council, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the benefits of the advisory council.



02:30 PM -- Natalie Leffler, Weld County School District 6, spoke in support of the bill.





02:33 PM



Speaker Duran distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment B), and committee discussion ensued.



170306 AttachB.pdf

02:39 PM



The committee recessed.