Bill > H4418

This bill makes several modifications to the Massachusetts Food Policy Council's composition and operations. First, it increases the number of council members from 18 to 20, specifically adding the director of the Division of Marine Fisheries and the director of the University of Massachusetts Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (or their designees) to the council. The bill also establishes new provisions for compensating advisory committee members, allowing them to receive payment at a rate approved by the department's chief financial officer, subject to certain legal restrictions and documentation requirements. Additionally, the bill creates a new position of full-time food system coordinator, who will be appointed by the council and tasked with coordinating food-related programs across state agencies, tracking metrics, identifying service gaps, and facilitating communication between different departments. The coordinator will be required to submit regular reports to various legislative and administrative bodies, providing insights into food system goals, opportunities for collaboration, and recommendations for improvement. These changes aim to enhance the council's effectiveness in addressing food-related issues across Massachusetts.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries (J)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4418