| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to grants awarded to nonprofit food banks for disaster response.
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.
The bill authorizes a grant program for nonprofit food banks for disaster response and would be dependent on future appropriations by the legislature. Currently, the House version of the General Appropriations Act contains $25 million in Article XI for this purpose.
HB 3668 would require the governor's office to establish a grant program for non-profit organizations to distribute to funds to food banks in order for the food banks to prepare for disasters. Grants in this program would be limited to reimbursements for maintaining an inventory of emergency food boxes in preparation for a disaster; purchasing, storing, and transporting food distribution during a disaster; and purchasing capital equipment necessary to operate during a disaster.
Texas Action remains neutral on HB 3668 because it does not affect our liberty principles. Disaster preparedness and disaster response management are legitimate functions of state government. This approach is likely less expensive than having the state create and maintain its own food banks for use in disaster response.