Section 7-503.21 - [Not funded.] Senior Food Security Interagency Taskforce.(a) There is established a Senior Food Security Interagency Taskforce ("Taskforce"), led by the Department, that shall regularly evaluate the District's programs and policies related to senior food insecurity, and programs and policies that could be established. The Taskforce shall advise and guide the Mayor, the Council, and the Department on programs and policies to address senior food insecurity in the District.(b) The Taskforce shall be composed of: (1) At least 7 members selected by the Mayor to represent District agencies that work on programs providing nutrition and transportation services to seniors, including, at a minimum, the Department, Department of Human Services, Department of Healthcare Finance, Department of Health, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, the Office of the Food Policy Director within the Office of Planning, and the Department of For-Hire Vehicles.(2) Seven members selected by the Mayor representing organizations serving seniors, including at least one registered Dietitian Nutritionist or licensed Certified Nutrition Specialist with expertise in the nutritional needs of seniors, at least one representative of the Senior Villages, and representatives from minority and other marginalized communities.(3) One member of the Food Policy Council selected by the Food Policy Director; and(4) Four members selected by the Mayor who are District seniors currently receiving or participating in nutrition services, who shall receive a stipend for their participation in the Taskforce.(c) The Taskforce shall, at a minimum: (1) Advise the Department and Mayor on the implementation of policies and outreach to address senior food insecurity;(2) Advise the Department in the development of the senior nutrition services communications plan required by section 319; (3) Within one year after the applicability date of the No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act of 2022, passed on 2nd reading December 6, 2022 (Enrolled version of Bill 24-419), prepare a Senior Food Security Plan that: (A) Describes the state of food security among the District's senior population, including a description of the food insecure population by geography and demographics, root causes of food insecurity, and risks of food insecurity for the senior population, as well as descriptions of any subcategories among food insecure seniors, including the specific root causes, risks, and unique needs of such subcategories;(B) Identifies all senior nutrition services, including transportation services, currently available in the District, identifies where there are gaps or additional needs in services, overlap and redundancies among existing services, and makes recommendations for where services, outreach, and resources should be created, expanded, consolidated, or better coordinated to increase their reach;(C) Recommends strategies to improve the nutritional quality of foods served to seniors, including increasing the amount of local fresh produce provided by congregate meals, home-delivered meals, and food boxes under the Emergency Food Assistance Program, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and other nutrition services programs;(D) Identifies cross-promotion and referral pathways consistent with the senior food services communications plan required by section 319; (E) Recommends strategies to expand access to nutrition services through increased delivery and transportation services; and(F) Identifies social welfare program application processes that should be improved to increase enrollment, and recommends strategies for streamlining and integrating processes and making online platforms more user friendly, taking into account access to and familiarity with technology among the population being served;(4) Meet at least every other month until the Senior Food Security Plan required by subsection (c)(3) of this section is completed, and then quarterly thereafter; and(5) Provide opportunity for public comment on the Senior Food Security Plan required by subsection (c)(3) of this section.Added by D.C. Law 24-294,§ 2, 70 DCR 000560, eff. 3/10/2023.