2024 -- H 8280

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LC006107

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY, PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS, AND OVERSEE IMPLEMENTATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR

STATE DEPARTMENTS AND VENDORS TO ADOPT GOOD FOOD PURCHASING

STANDARDS IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representative Rebecca M. Kislak

     Date Introduced: May 16, 2024

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, Individual and collective choices regarding food purchasing and

consumption affect the health, sustainability, working conditions, and economic opportunity in

our communities; and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island works to improve the health of all its residents,

and to promote safe, healthy and fair work environments for its workforce. The creation of a

sustainable local food system supports these efforts and promotes a productive environment and

animal welfare; and

     WHEREAS, The Good Food Purchasing Program ("GFPP") was developed in 2012 to

incentivize public institutions to procure Good Food produced through values-driven purchasing

standards; and

     WHEREAS, GFPP defines Good Food as food that is healthy, affordable, fair, and

sustainable. Good Food is produced, processed, distributed, and recycled locally using the

principles of environmental stewardship (in terms of water, soil, and pesticide management)

meets the dietary guidelines for Americans, and is available to purchase for all income levels; and

     WHEREAS, Good Food values prioritize nutrition, affordability, locality, and sustainable

production practices, including sound environmental practices, fair prices for producers, safe and

fair working conditions for employees, and humane conditions for animals; and

     WHEREAS, All participants in the GFPP food supply chain receive fair compensation

and fair treatment and are free from exploitation; and

     WHEREAS, Good Food Purchasing refers to the sourcing and purchasing of foods and

beverages, and food and beverage service contracts, procured by state departments and agencies;

and

     WHEREAS, In practicing Good Food Purchasing policies, the State of Rhode Island will

help support a regional food system that is ecologically sound, economically viable and socially

responsible, and has an impact on the availability of local, sustainable food; and

     WHEREAS, It is recognized that the significant buying power of public institutions

across the country can reform the food system, create opportunities for smaller farmers and low-

income entrepreneurs to thrive, provide just compensation and fair treatment for food chain

workers, support sustainable farming practices, reward good environmental stewardship, and

increase access to fresh and healthy foods; and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is focused on creating and building wealth in our

neighborhoods and supporting small business owners and employees in addressing income

inequality in our state; and

     WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention State Physical Activity and

Nutrition (SPAN) Grant is a five (5) year cooperative agreement awarded to 17 states, including

the Rhode Island Department of Health (DOH), and specifies a strategy dedicated to procurement

in state institutions. The primary goal of the procurement strategy centers around collaborations

with state agency partners to update food service guidelines, including conducting baseline

assessments; and

     WHEREAS, Under the SPAN Cooperative Agreement the Rhode Island Department of

Health (RIDOH) has initiated procurement research efforts, including a thorough review of

existing legislation and state purchasing practice. RIDOH plans to convene a collaborative task

force including both state agencies as well as community organizations to influence statewide

purchasing, incorporating key tenets of good food purchasing; and

     WHEREAS, Relish Rhody is a state-led, interagency strategy to improve the food system

in Rhode Island. In addition to the state-level leadership, the food strategy is informed by a robust

network of community partners across sub-sectors who are engaged in this effort.

     WHEREAS, The Director of Food Strategy, in partnership with leaders from the RI

Commerce Corporation, the RI Department of Environmental Management, the RI Department of

Health, and the Narragansett Indian Tribe along with community partners, are leading the effort

to renew the state’s food strategy; and

     WHEREAS, Connecting food procurement to Rhode Island food producers through

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Good Food Purchasing Standards by giving broad discretion to state institutions to purchase

Rhode Island-produced food directly from farmers and other suppliers would support local farms

and small businesses; create more jobs in food processing, manufacturing, and distribution;

promote self-reliance and preservation of family farms; protect workers' rights; promote safe

working conditions; and ensure fair compensation for all farm and food workers; now, therefore

be it

     RESOLVED, That a special joint legislative commission be and the same is hereby

created consisting of seventeen (17) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate,

not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the

Senate; three (3) of whom shall be members of the House, not more than two (2) from the same

political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of

the Department of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of

Administration, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of

Environmental Management, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Relish

Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Southside

Community Land Trust, or designee; one of whom shall be Executive Director of Farm Fresh

Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the Food Strategy Project Manager of the Rhode

Island Commerce Corporation, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode

Island Department of Education Farm to School Program, or designee; one of whom shall be the

Executive Director of Farm to Institution New England, or designee; one of whom shall be a

representative of the animal welfare industry, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

one of whom shall be a representative from the food chain workers industry, to be appointed by

the President of the Senate.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing

authority shall appoint two (2) members of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall include, but not be limited to, studying current

procurement of food within the State and how Good Food Purchasing standards can be adopted.

     In order to leverage State of Rhode Island purchasing and procurement to improve public

health, sustainability, fair working conditions, and local opportunity across the State of Rhode

Island, the State should embrace a Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) as a strategy to help

improve our region's food system through the adoption and implementation of Good Food

Purchasing Standards, which emphasize values that would:

     1. Support small and mid-sized agricultural and food processing operations within the

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local area or region;

     2. Support producers that employ sustainable production systems that reduce or eliminate

synthetic pesticides and fertilizers; avoid the use of hormones, antibiotics, and genetic

engineering; conserve soil and water; protect and enhance wildlife habitat and biodiversity; and

reduce on-farm energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions;

     3. Protect workers' rights to freedom of association, to organize a union and collectively

bargain in order to better ensure safe and healthy working conditions, fair compensation, and

access to health insurance and affordable child care for all food chain workers;

     4. Ensure farmers a fair price for their products that covers the cost of production and fair

remuneration for their management and labor;

     5. Provide healthy and humane care for farm animals; and

     6. Promote health and well-being by offering generous portions of vegetables, fruit, and

whole grains; reducing salt, added sugars, fats, and oils; and by eliminating artificial additives.

     Additionally, in support of state equity the following considerations in the Commission’s

study should include how adopting a Good Food Purchasing Program will address ongoing

inequities and issues caused by unequal access to resources, including methods to encourage

prospective food vendors to invest in our disadvantaged and minority communities through

language/requirements in procurement requests preferences for prospective vendors who:

     • Demonstrate a track record of hiring and investing in local disadvantaged

communities;

     • Provide living wages to all their employees, including frontline food workers;

     • Are local minority, disabled, and/or women-owned businesses; and

     • Are local producers and processors operating in low-income communities and

employing non­toxic, environmentally sustainable methods.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate and organize and shall select

from among the legislators, co-chairpersons.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Commission shall submit an interim report to the Executive Office

of Health and Human Services no later than December 15, 2024, and its final report to the

Executive Office of Health and Human Services no later than February 15, 2025. Following

submission of the final report, the Commission shall continue to meet to monitor and support the

implementation of these recommendations and shall expire on February 15, 2026.

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LC006107

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY, PROVIDE

RECOMMENDATIONS, AND OVERSEE IMPLEMENTATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR

STATE DEPARTMENTS AND VENDORS TO ADOPT GOOD FOOD PURCHASING

STANDARDS IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

***

     This resolution would create a seventeen (17) member special joint legislative

commission whose purpose it would be to study, provide recommendations and oversee the

implementation of Good Food Purchasing Standards in Rhode Island, and who would provide an

interim report to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services no later than December 15,

2024, a final report by February 15, 2025, and expire on February 15, 2026.

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LC006107

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