(1) Serve within government and in the state at large as an advocate for hungry persons.

(2) Participate in coordinating the effective and efficient provision of services to hungry citizens so that the services will be readily available to the greatest number over the widest geographic area; assure that information on these services is available in each locality, utilizing whenever possible existing information services; and assure that each new service receives maximum publicity at the time it is initiated.

(3) Have authority to study programs and budgets of those public bodies or private entities willing to cooperate, and all state agencies, that provide services or funding directed at the alleviation or eradication of hunger.

(4) Have authority to study any concepts regarding the alleviation or eradication of hunger within this state.

(5) Make recommendations and proposals that the task force deems appropriate to the agencies and entities with member representatives on the task force. The recommendations shall be designed to provide coordination of programs for hungry persons, to avoid unnecessary duplication in provision of services, to point out gaps in provision of services and to recommend ways of filling gaps in services. The task force also shall recommend development of a comprehensive plan for delivery of services to hungry persons. In carrying out these tasks, the task force shall coordinate its efforts with other advisory groups or entities with similar or related responsibilities to avoid duplication of effort. After the recommendations and proposals have been reviewed and approved by the member representatives of the task force, the task force shall submit the recommendations and proposals to the Governor, the Legislative Assembly and others as deemed appropriate by the task force.

(6) Encourage, by expansion of existing activities and programs for the hungry, by school programs, by meals-on-wheels, by counseling or by other means, public and private development of nutrition programs for hungry citizens that prevent or minimize hunger and illness which is related to hunger or nutritional deficiencies.

(7) Conduct research and other appropriate activities to determine:

(a) The dimensions of hunger in the state;

(b) The availability and accessibility of emergency food in all areas of the state;

(c) The opportunities for public and private partnerships in the areas of food and nutrition;

(d) The participation rates of eligible persons in all federal food programs, especially the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;

(e) The identification of persons needing food and nutrition services who are not eligible under existing programs;

(f) Barriers to the participation of eligible persons in food and nutrition programs; and

(g) The impact of economic changes on food and nutrition programs.

(8) Prepare and disseminate an annual report on the status of hunger in the state, efforts being made to alleviate and eradicate hunger, and proposals and recommendations for strengthening progress toward the eradication of hunger. [Formerly 411.850; 2007 c.145 §8; 2009 c.599 §22; 2015 c.180 §23]

Note: See note under 458.530.