HB 19-1202 Summary

• Relocates the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council from the Department of Agriculture to Colorado State University and expands its mission to focus on growing local and regional food economies while improving healthy food access.

• Increases council membership from 15 to 22 members, adding representatives from institutional procurement, food distribution, nutrition specialists, and recipients of federal food assistance programs.

• Expands the council's duties to include connecting agricultural producers to federal food assistance programs, leveraging institutional purchasing power for Colorado products, and implementing recommendations from the Colorado Blueprint of Food and Agriculture.

• Authorizes the council to seek and accept gifts, grants, and donations to fund operations through a dedicated food systems advisory council fund, with Colorado State University providing staffing if funding is available.

• Appropriates $100,317 for the 2019-20 fiscal year to support council operations and requires biennial reporting to specified legislative committees on council activities and recommendations.