HF 2881

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/11/2024 04:33pm

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; establishing a headwaters community food and
water economic resiliency program; appropriating money; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [116J.544] HEADWATERS COMMUNITY FOOD AND WATER
ECONOMIC RESILIENCY PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Regenerative food web" means a decentralized, coordinated system for managing
energy regeneratively in every component of a locally adapted food economy from source
to table that is designed to be inclusive, create capacity for health and well-being, foster a
culture of caring, and recognize the fundamental interdependent relationship of people and
nature.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program; purpose. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must administer a headwaters community
food and water economic resiliency program. The purpose of the program is to facilitate
the establishment and maintenance of local and regional regenerative food webs to address
in a sustainable manner the enduring challenges of food, water, and climate. The
commissioner must develop and administer the program in consultation with the advisory
committee established under subdivision 4.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Methods. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must achieve the purpose in subdivision 1
through multiple methods, including but not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide financial and technical assistance for urban and rural producers engaged in
organic, regenerative food systems to year-round operations to respond to demands for
dependable food supply chains in the face of unpredictable weather and to normalize access
to affordable, culturally relevant, locally produced, fresh, prepared, and preserved food
sources daily in schools and communities;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide financial and technical assistance for physical infrastructure including:
new text end

new text begin (i) facilities for aggregation, storage, composting, greenhouses, seed saving,
weather-resilient water management systems, and research;
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new text begin (ii) marketing and distribution sites, including neighborhood food commons and kitchens
equipped for food preparation and preservation; and
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new text begin (iii) support for existing hubs and learning centers;
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new text begin (3) provide financial and technical assistance for operational infrastructure in every
component of the food web including:
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new text begin (i) production, preparation, and preservation;
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new text begin (ii) neighborhood based food commons;
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new text begin (iii) reusable storage, distribution and waste elimination systems;
new text end

new text begin (iv) emergency preparation and recovery operations;
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new text begin (v) aggregation, delivery, distribution, and storage systems designed to be responsive
to daily and seasonal needs that removes a grower's and producer's responsibility for
transporting harvests to market sites;
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new text begin (vi) leadership training and network facilitation; and
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new text begin (vii) local and regional partnerships necessary to support regenerative food web
operations;
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new text begin (4) provide financial and technical assistance to advance the revival of food cultures
defined by Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color;
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new text begin (5) provide funding for long-term holistic, in-situ research throughout the regenerative
food web to utilize and document local ecological knowledge, conduct seed and plant
exchange, and establish perennial, weather-resilient landscapes to restore vital biological
diversity and ground water;
new text end

new text begin (6) provide a financial investment fund to offer training and establish new members of
the food web, including regenerative growers and teams of skilled culinary staff of all racial
identities, including community members who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people
of color, to participate as employees in the food web economy including individual,
cooperative, and small-scale operations; and
new text end

new text begin (7) provide affordable and accessible health care for every member of the food web
economy to ensure that the system is economically robust and can operate effectively.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall establish a fund to make fruits and vegetables affordable
for all income levels.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Advisory committee. new text end

new text begin (a) The Headwaters Community Food and Water
Economic Resiliency Advisory Committee is established and consists of persons from urban
and rural communities who represent the following groups, as appointed by the commissioner
of employment and economic development: local regenerative and organic farmers,
neighborhood food hubs, cooperatives, culinary schools, local food restaurateurs, community
organizers, food council members, system managers, scientists, researchers, students, and
public health officials. Members may be employed in the web economy and must include
leaders who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner may remove members and fill vacancies as provided in section 15.059,
subdivision 4.
new text end

new text begin (b) The advisory committee must advise the commissioner regarding the establishment
and operation of the headwaters community food and water economic resiliency program,
including but not limited to program criteria, eligibility guidelines, application processes,
monitoring and accountability mechanisms, leveraging additional public and private
investments, and promoting the program statewide.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner must convene the advisory committee at least two times per year
to perform the committee's duties.
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new text begin (d) The commissioner must provide staffing, meeting space, and administrative services
for the advisory committee.
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new text begin (e) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee is the chair of the committee.
new text end

new text begin (f) Public members of the advisory committee serve without compensation or payment
of expenses.
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new text begin (g) The advisory committee does not expire.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2024 and $....... in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for purposes of the
headwaters community food and water economic resiliency program in Minnesota Statutes,
section 116J.544.
new text end