Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Food Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Assemblymember pitches 'Count Hunger Act' to expand California food-insecurity data
Summary
Assemblymember Stephanie told the Senate Health Committee AB 17 34 would expand California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) food-security questions to 400% of the federal poverty level so the state captures food insecurity driven by California's high cost of living; advocates from San Francisco Marin Food Bank and many organizations backed the bill.
Assemblymember Stephanie introduced AB 17 34, the Count Hunger Act, telling the Senate Health Committee the measure would strengthen California’s ability to track food insecurity by expanding the California Health Interview Survey’s food-security screening to households at up to 400% of the federal poverty level to reflect the state’s high cost of living. “Without accurate data, we lose sight of who is struggling to put food on the table,” she said, and indicated she would accept the committee’s amendments.
Marshawn Tadman, associate director of policy and advocacy at the San Francisco Marin Food Bank, told the committee CHIS is foundational: it reaches more than 25,000 households a year and has been used for key policy decisions. He warned that federal cuts to national surveys risk leaving California without reliable information and said expanding CHIS is a necessary state response.
Maxwell Titsworth, chief data and technology officer for the San Francisco Marin Food Bank, said the suspension of the USDA hunger survey means California’s CHIS is the state’s best remaining tool and described AB 17 34 as a way to “retain the existing CHIS food security measurement and also expand it from 200 to 400% of the federal poverty line.” He cited evidence that many food-insecure households earn more than 200% of the poverty threshold.
A broad coalition of organizations including AARP California, the County of Santa Clara, the California Association of Food Banks, StopWaste, the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and others registered support at the microphone. No lead opposition witness spoke during the allotted time.
The author asked for an “I” vote; later in the session, after a quorum was established, the committee moved AB 17 34 as amended and re-referred it to the Committee on Education.
The bill’s proponents framed the measure as a data-improvement initiative rather than a new benefit program. If enacted, the change would give state policymakers fuller information about which households are food insecure under California conditions and could affect future allocation of state anti-hunger resources.
