(6)__Coordinate the efforts of state agencies relating to food to ensure that state programs are conducted in a manner that optimizes their effectiveness, promotes locally grown foods and ensures consistency with the state food policy developed under paragraph A.

7.__Formation of subcommittees.__The council shall invite a broad base of individuals and representatives of advocacy and stakeholder groups to participate in the strategic planning process under subsection 7, paragraph B through the formation of subcommittees__and working groups to address issues identified by the council as needing further study or particular expertise.

8.__Staff assistance.__The department shall provide staff to the council.

9.__Fund.__A separate nonlapsing account is established within the department known as the food policy development and implementation fund. The commissioner shall administer the nonlapsing fund on behalf of the council.__The council may seek and accept gifts, donations and grants from any public or private source for deposit in the fund to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

10.__Reimbursement for travel expenses.__A member of the council not compensated by that member's employer or the entity that the member represents may request reimbursement from the department for necessary travel expenses incurred for attendance at authorized meetings of the council.__The department shall reimburse travel expenses from the fund established under subsection 10 or from existing departmental resources upon determining that travel expenditures are a financial hardship for the requesting member. The commissioner shall develop a standard for determining what is a financial hardship for the purposes of this subsection and Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 1-B.

11.__Report.__The council shall submit a biennial report on the activities of the council to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters by December 15th of odd-numbered years. The report must include an update on the strategic plan developed under subsection 7, paragraph B, an account of progress made in achieving the goals of the council and a description of actions necessary to implement the recommendations of the council.

§217.__Hunters for the Hungry Program; acceptance

of donations