potentially stripping communities of their only quality food
source and leaving their residents with fewer and less desirable
locations at which to purchase food, such as higher-priced
convenience stores and fast-food chains; and
WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the Commonwealth to
ensure public health, safety and the general welfare of its
residents by promoting access to affordable healthy food retail;
and
WHEREAS, There is a need for a comprehensive review to
determine best practices for reducing regulatory barriers to
investments involving large grocery stores or supermarkets to
promote healthy food access in communities across this
Commonwealth; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a study and report on
restrictive covenants involving large grocery stores or
supermarkets in this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission:
(1) review laws, regulations, practices, procedures and
applicable municipal ordinances regarding restrictive
covenants and other usage restrictions or barriers to
investments involving large grocery stores or supermarkets;
(2) identify the nature and number of restrictive
covenants that prohibit or limit grocery store or supermarket
competitors from occupying a property after the property is
sold or transferred, with attention given to at least one of
the major metropolitan areas in this Commonwealth;
(3) examine quality food access in lower-income rural
communities in this Commonwealth; and
(4) identify instances where a food retailer would
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