HF 467

2nd Engrossment - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 05/02/2011 03:10pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; directing the commissioner of corrections to implement
a gardening program at state correctional facilities; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 241.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [241.241] PRISON GARDENING PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall establish a gardening
program for inmates at each correctional facility where space and security allows for
operation of a garden. The garden shall be primarily tended by inmates. The commissioner
shall strive to raise produce that can be used to feed inmates in state correctional facilities.
The commissioner shall donate any portion of the harvest that cannot be used to feed
inmates to food shelves and charities located near the correctional facility where the
produce was grown.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall include the following information in the
annual report to the legislature required under section 241.016:
new text end

new text begin (1) the type and amount of produce raised in the gardening program;
new text end

new text begin (2) the amount of the harvest used to feed inmates and the amount used for other
purposes;
new text end

new text begin (3) the amount of inmate time dedicated to the gardening program;
new text end

new text begin (4) the cost savings to the department from using prison-grown food to feed inmates;
and
new text end

new text begin (5) the cost of operating the program.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2012.
new text end