Amendment #441 to H4000

Kocot amendment-FY 2015-Healthy Foods for the Homeless

Representatives Kocot of Northampton and Scibak of South Hadley move to amend the bill in section 2, in item 7004-0101, at the end thereof, by inserting after "risk" the following: "provided, that the department shall develop a pilot program in the Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Berkshire regions of western Massachusetts to assess the need for and to provide nutritious meals to those homeless families placed in hotels and motels in said region, provided further, that the department shall create a working group including, but not limited to the department of transitional assistance, the university of massachusetts at amherst, the Smith College School of Social Work, the department of children and families, the department of mental health, the department of elementary and secondary education, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, faith based organizations, CISA, the Department of Agricultural Resources, the network of food pantries and survival centers, the Food Bank of western Massachusetts, HAP, the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness, the Western Massachusetts Council of Human Services Providers and regional community action agencies.  Said pilot project shall develop methods and funding sources to provide access to nutritious meals, including fresh fruits and vegetables, to those temporarily housed in hotels and motels."