HF 2006

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education and agriculture; creating a pilot incentive grant program to
encourage school districts to purchase locally grown foods; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin SCHOOL PURCHASE OF LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOD; PILOT
GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of education, in consultation with the commissioner of
agriculture, shall establish and implement a pilot grant program to encourage school
districts to purchase locally grown foods. The commissioners of education and agriculture
shall choose the school districts that receive the grants on a competitive basis. At least one
school district in a metropolitan area and one school district in a rural area of the state must
be chosen for a grant. The grants shall be used for the coordination and implementation of
a program to provide additional locally grown food to the school district.
new text end

new text begin (b) A school district receiving a grant under this section shall include in its
curriculum a discussion of locally produced food, including the identification of the
locally produced food used by the district.
new text end

new text begin (c) By September 15, 2008, a school district receiving a grant under this section
shall report to the commissioners of education and agriculture on the expenditure of
grant money received and any additional resources used by the district to coordinate the
purchase of locally grown food. The report shall include information on the amounts
and types of foods purchased, and any recommendations on methods and practices for
coordinating the purchase of locally produced food.
new text end

new text begin (d) By November 15, 2008, the commissioner of education, in consultation with
the commissioner of agriculture, shall report to the house and senate policy and budget
committees and divisions with jurisdiction over education and agriculture on the use of
the grant money under this section. The report shall include a summary of the individual
school district reports in paragraph (c).
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2008 from the general fund to the commissioner
of education for grants under section 1. This is a onetime appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2009.
new text end