Utah Code § 53H-4-313 — Utah Code / Title 53H / Chapter 53H-4 / § 53H-4-313
§ 53H-4-313. Food Security Council.
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section: (a) "Council" means the Food Security Council created in this section. (b) "Food security" means access to sufficient, affordable, safe, and nutritious food that meets an individual's food preferences and dietary needs. (c) "SNAP-Ed program" means the nutrition education component of the federal "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" under Title 7, U.S.C. Chapter 51, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (d) "State superintendent" means the state superintendent of public instruction appointed under Section 53E-3-301. (e) "Utah food product" means a food product that is produced in the state. (2) There is created at Utah State University the Food Security Council. (3) The council is composed of the following 15 members: (a) the executive director of the Department of Health and Human Services or the executive director's designee; (b) the executive director of the Department of Workforce Services or the executive director's designee; (c) the state superintendent or the state superintendent's designee; (d) the commissioner or the commissioner's designee; (e) the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food or the commissioner's designee; and (f) the following members appointed by the chair of the council: (i) one member who represents the Utah State University Extension Service; (ii) one member who represents the Utah State University Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program; (iii) one member who represents the Utah Women, Infants, and Children Program administered under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1786; (iv) one member who represents the Utah SNAP-Ed program; (v) one member who represents a food assistance organization; (vi) one member who represents an advocacy group that addresses federal nutrition programs; (vii) one member who represents an organization that promotes healthy eating and active lifestyles in the state; (viii) one member who represents an organization that provides refugee resettlement services in the state; (ix) one member who represents the Utah Farm Bureau Federation; and (x) one member who represents a tribal government in the state. (4) (a) A member described in Subsection (3)(d) shall serve a term of two years. (b) If a vacancy occurs for a member described in Subsection (3)(d), the chair of the council shall appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the member's term. (c) A member may serve more than one term. (5) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service. (6) The council shall elect a chair from the council's members, who shall serve a two-year term. (7) (a) A majority of the members of the council constitutes a quorum of the council. (b) The action by a majority of the members of a quorum constitutes the action of the council. (8) The Utah State University Hunger Solutions Institute shall provide staff support to the council. (9) The council shall: (a) develop statewide goals and messaging related to food security and nutrition education; (b) coordinate statewide efforts to address food security; (c) ensure that any state programs receiving federal funds from the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service provide consistent and coordinated nutrition education messaging; (d) promote programs and activities that contribute to healthy eating and active lifestyles; (e) promote programs and activities that advance Utah food products; and (f) disseminate the statewide goals and messaging developed under Subsection (10) to state agencies. (10) On or before October 1 of each year, the council shall prepare and submit an annual written report to the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee, the Education Interim Committee, and the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee that contains: (a) a description of the council's operations, activities, programs, and services; and (b) any recommendations on how the state should act to address issues relating to food security. (11) The council may accept gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources for purposes of carrying out the council's duties.