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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 397
SENATE BILL NO. 1239
By Jackson, Rose, Yarbro
Substituted for: House Bill No. 1357
By Littleton, Farmer, Hardaway, Bricken
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36 and Title 37, relative to children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "End Childhood Hunger Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37 is amended by adding the following
language as a new chapter:
(a) There is created the Tennessee task force to end childhood hunger, hereinafter
referred to in this section as the "task force."
(b) The purpose of the task force is to develop an action plan for ending childhood
hunger. The task force shall recommend a strategic action plan to guide the administration and
general assembly on how to:
(1) Address the challenges of affordability and accessibility of high quality
nutrition in this state;
(2) More effectively use public resources to address those challenges,
including, but not limited to, the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF)
program, the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), and the summer food
service program;
(3) Build partnerships between government and the nonprofit sector, through
which nonprofits are motivated to create and participate in strategies that address the
hunger needs of children;
(4) Streamline coordination between the department of human services, the
department of education, the department of health, and the department of children's
services in developing solutions to the state's childhood hunger challenges; and
(5) Address administrative challenges with electronic benefit transfer (EBT)
cards, including, but not limited to, theft and fraud.
(c) The task force is composed of fourteen (14) members, which include:
(1) The commissioner of human services, or the commissioner's designee;
(2) The commissioner of labor and workforce development, or the
commissioner's designee;
(3) The commissioner of education, or the commissioner's designee;
(4) The commissioner of health, or the commissioner's designee;
(5) The commissioner of children's services, or the commissioner's designee;
SB 1239
(6) The executive director of the Tennessee commission on children and
youth, or the executive director's designee;
(7) One (1) member of the senate to be appointed by the speaker of the
senate;
(8) One (1) member of the house of representatives to be appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives; and
(9) Six (6) representatives from nonprofit organizations whose focus is food
insecurity and childhood hunger, two (2) of whom must be appointed by the speaker
of the senate, two (2) of whom must be appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives, and two (2) of whom must be appointed by the governor.
(d)(1) Members of the task force serve without compensation for their services, and
must meet electronically pursuant to§ 8-44-108.
(2) Vacancies among the members of the task force must be filled in the same
manner as in the original selection of members.
(3) The speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives
shall confer in making appointments to ensure that members of the task force are
inclusive and reflect the diversity of people of this state.
(4) The commissioner of human services shall serve as chair, and shall call
the first meeting of the task force no later than July 1, 2025, at which time the
members shall elect a first vice chair and second vice chair from among the private
sector members.
(5) The task force shall meet at least every three (3) months. The chair may
call special meetings when necessary for the transaction of business and shall notify
each member of the task force of any special meeting at least five (5) days before the
time fixed for the special meeting. A majority of the members of the task force may
petition the chair to call a special meeting, in which case the chair shall call a special
meeting.
(e) The task force must agree upon any findings and recommendations by a majority
vote of the total membership of the task force. A majority of the members of the task force
constitutes a quorum for the purpose of meeting and conducting business.
(f) The task force is administratively attached to the department of human services.
All appropriate agencies of state government shall provide reasonable assistance to the task
force upon request of the chair of the task force.
(g) The task force has the responsibility to:
(1) Develop a strategic action plan for increasing the availability of high-
quality, affordable, and accessible nutrition in this state;
(2) Develop policy recommendations to ensure the provision of programs and
services that will enable children to be self-sufficient, healthy, and productive citizens;
(3) Develop policy recommendations to address administrative challenges
with EBT cards, including, but not limited to, _theft and fraud; and
(4) Identify resources across state government departments and community
partners that could be streamlined, coordi'nated, and more effectively utilized to
address childhood hunger challenges.
(h) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the
general assembly no later than July 1, 2026. The report must include:
(1) Findings and conclusions about childhood hunger needs in this state;
(2) The full strategic action plan, with an executive summary, that includes the
types of resources available through community partners and the number of children
served; and
(3) Recommendations for legislation deemed necessary by the task force to
implement the strategic plan.
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SB 1239
(i) The task force ceases to exist upon completion of the task force's report and
recommendations.
SECTION 3. For the purpose of making appointments, this act takes effect upon becoming a
law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect July 1, 2025, the
public welfare requiring it.
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SENATE BILL NO. 1239
PASSED: Apri I 16, 2025
RANDY,cNALLY
SPEAKER OF TH SENATE
c.
CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
~ ~ APPROVED this 2025
day of
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