SB 23-159

Senate Bill 23-159 extends the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council's operation until September 1, 2026, and adds a food bank representative as a new member. It also changes how members are appointed by requiring the governor and legislative leaders to appoint specific numbers of council members. The bill updates the council’s duties to include researching best practices for improving Colorado’s food distribution systems and supporting agricultural producers. Additionally, it requires the council to report annually on its activities and planned work while accepting public comments. For the 2023-24 fiscal year, the bill allocates $151,068 from the general fund to support the council's operations. The governor signed this bill into law, and it became effective on August 7, 2023.

Official Summary

The act extends the Colorado food systems advisory council (council) established within Colorado state university until September 1, 2026. The act adds a representative of a food bank as a member of the council. The act changes how 16 members of the council are appointed, requiring that the governor or the governor's designee appoint 5 members and that the speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leader of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the minority leader of the senate appoint 12 members on a rotating basis as new positions or vacancies arise. The act creates new duties for the council, including: Examining best practices to advance or improve food distribution systems and develop new markets for Colorado agricultural producers; and Conducting research and providing support at the request of the governor, members of the general assembly, or any state agency in connection with the council's purpose and duties. The act requires the council to include a summary of the council's activities from the prior year and a summary of the council's planned activities for the upcoming year in council's annual report to specified legislative committees. The council must also accept and consider public comment regarding the annual report. The act repeals the council's authority to engage in any other activity not specified in statute that the council determines is necessary to accomplish the council's purposes. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $151,068 from the general fund to the department of higher education for limited fee-for-service contracts with state institutions, which amount is reappropriated for use by the board of governors of the Colorado state university system for the food systems advisory council. APPROVED by Governor June 2, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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