HF 4359

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/17/2022 02:21pm

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; modifying the Minnesota State College and Universities
mental health grants appropriation; increasing funding for mental health grants;
amending Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 2,
subdivision 5.

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

Section 1.

Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 2, subdivision 5,
is amended to read:

Subd. 5. Administration and Financial Assistance

9,977,000

deleted text begin 9,839,000 deleted text end new text begin 9,861,000 new text end

(a) $474,000 the first year and $474,000 the
second year are for payments to county and
district agricultural societies and associations
under Minnesota Statutes, section 38.02,
subdivision 1. Aid payments to county and
district agricultural societies and associations
shall be disbursed no later than July 15 of each
year. These payments are the amount of aid
from the state for an annual fair held in the
previous calendar year.

(b) $387,000 the first year and $337,000 the
second year are for farm advocate services.
Of these amounts, $100,000 the first year and
$50,000 the second year are for a pilot
program creating farmland access teams to
provide technical assistance to potential
beginning farmers. The farmland access teams
must assist existing farmers and beginning
farmers on transitioning farm ownership and
operation. Services provided by teams may
include but are not limited to providing
mediation assistance, designing contracts,
financial planning, tax preparation, estate
planning, and housing assistance. Of this
amount for farm transitions, up to $50,000 the
first year may be used to upgrade the
Minnesota FarmLink web application that
connects farmers looking for land with farmers
looking to transition their land.

(c) $47,000 the first year and $47,000 the
second year are for grants to the Northern
Crops Institute that may be used to purchase
equipment. These are onetime appropriations.

(d) $238,000 the first year and deleted text begin $238,000 deleted text end new text begin
$260,000 new text end the second year are for deleted text begin transfer deleted text end new text begin a
pass-through grant new text end to deleted text begin the Board of Trustees
of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities deleted text end new text begin Region Five Development
Commission, in collaboration with Minnesota
Farm Business Management: (1) new text end for statewide
mental health counseling support to deleted text begin farm
families and business operators through the
Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of
Excellence. South Central College and Central
Lakes College shall serve as the fiscal agents deleted text end new text begin
Minnesota farm and ranch operators, families,
and employees; and (2) for support to
individuals who work with Minnesota farmers
and ranchers in a professional capacity. Region
Five Development Commission may use up
to 6.5 percent of the grant awarded under this
paragraph for administration new text end .

(e) $1,700,000 the first year and $1,700,000
the second year are for grants to Second
Harvest Heartland on behalf of Minnesota's
six Feeding America food banks for the
following:

(1) to purchase milk for distribution to
Minnesota's food shelves and other charitable
organizations that are eligible to receive food
from the food banks. Milk purchased under
the grants must be acquired from Minnesota
milk processors and based on low-cost bids.
The milk must be allocated to each Feeding
America food bank serving Minnesota
according to the formula used in the
distribution of United States Department of
Agriculture commodities under The
Emergency Food Assistance Program. Second
Harvest Heartland may enter into contracts or
agreements with food banks for shared funding
or reimbursement of the direct purchase of
milk. Each food bank that receives funding
under this clause may use up to two percent
for administrative expenses;

(2) to compensate agricultural producers and
processors for costs incurred to harvest and
package for transfer surplus fruits, vegetables,
and other agricultural commodities that would
otherwise go unharvested, be discarded, or
sold in a secondary market. Surplus
commodities must be distributed statewide to
food shelves and other charitable organizations
that are eligible to receive food from the food
banks. Surplus food acquired under this clause
must be from Minnesota producers and
processors. Second Harvest Heartland may
use up to 15 percent of each grant awarded
under this clause for administrative and
transportation expenses; and

(3) to purchase and distribute protein products,
including but not limited to pork, poultry, beef,
dry legumes, cheese, and eggs to Minnesota's
food shelves and other charitable organizations
that are eligible to receive food from the food
banks. Second Harvest Heartland may use up
to two percent of each grant awarded under
this clause for administrative expenses. Protein
products purchased under the grants must be
acquired from Minnesota processors and
producers.

Of the amount appropriated under this
paragraph, at least $600,000 each year must
be allocated under clause (1). Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, any
unencumbered balance the first year does not
cancel and is available in the second year.
Second Harvest Heartland must submit
quarterly reports to the commissioner and the
chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over
agriculture finance in the form prescribed by
the commissioner. The reports must include
but are not limited to information on the
expenditure of funds, the amount of milk or
other commodities purchased, and the
organizations to which this food was
distributed.

(f) $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the
second year are for grants to the Minnesota
Agricultural Education and Leadership
Council for programs of the council under
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 41D.

(g) $1,437,000 the first year and $1,437,000
the second year are for transfer to the
agricultural and environmental revolving loan
account established under Minnesota Statutes,
section 17.117, subdivision 5a, for low-interest
loans under Minnesota Statutes, section
17.117. The base for appropriations under this
paragraph in fiscal year 2024 and thereafter
is $1,425,000. The commissioner must
examine how the department could use up to
one-third of the amount transferred to the
agricultural and environmental revolving loan
account under this paragraph to award grants
to rural landowners to replace septic systems
that inadequately protect groundwater. No
later than February 1, 2022, the commissioner
must report to the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over agriculture finance and
environment finance on the results of the
examination required under this paragraph.
The commissioner's report may include other
funding sources for septic system replacement
that are available to rural landowners.

(h) $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the
second year are for grants to the Center for
Rural Policy and Development. These are
onetime appropriations.

(i) $150,000 the first year is to provide grants
to Central Lakes College for the purposes of
designing, building, and offering credentials
in the area of meat cutting and butchery that
align with industry needs as advised by local
industry advisory councils. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, any
unencumbered balance does not cancel at the
end of the first year and is available for the
second year. The commissioner may only
award a grant under this paragraph if the grant
is matched by a like amount from another
funding source. The commissioner must seek
matching dollars from Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities or other entities.
The appropriation is onetime and is available
until June 30, 2024. Any money remaining on
June 30, 2024, must be transferred to the
agricultural growth, research, and innovation
program under Minnesota Statutes, section
41A.12, and is available until June 30, 2025.
Grants may be used for costs including but
not limited to:

(1) facility renovation to accommodate meat
cutting;

(2) curriculum design and approval from the
Higher Learning Commission;

(3) program operational start-up costs;

(4) equipment required for a meat cutting
program; and

(5) meat handling start-up costs in regard to
meat access and market channel building.

No later than January 15, 2023, Central Lakes
College must submit a report outlining the use
of grant money to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the legislative
committees and divisions with jurisdiction
over agriculture and higher education.

(j) $2,000 the first year is for grants to the
Minnesota State Poultry Association. This is
a onetime appropriation. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, any
unencumbered balance does not cancel at the
end of the first year and is available for the
second year.

(k) $17,000 the first year and $17,000 the
second year are for grants to the Minnesota
State Horticultural Society. These are onetime
appropriations.

(l) $18,000 the first year and $18,000 the
second year are for grants to the Minnesota
Livestock Breeders Association. These are
onetime appropriations.

(m) The commissioner shall continue to
increase connections with ethnic minority and
immigrant farmers to farming opportunities
and farming programs throughout the state.

(n) $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the
second year are for grants to the Southern
Minnesota Initiative Foundation to promote
local foods through an annual event that raises
public awareness of local foods and connects
local food producers and processors with
potential buyers.

(o) $75,000 the first year and $75,000 the
second year are for grants to Greater Mankato
Growth, Inc., for assistance to
agriculture-related businesses to promote jobs,
innovation, and synergy development. These
are onetime appropriations.

(p) $75,000 the first year and $75,000 the
second year are for grants to the Minnesota
Turf Seed Council for basic and applied
research. The Minnesota Turf Seed Council
may subcontract with a qualified third party
for some or all of the basic or applied research.
No later than January 15, 2023, the Minnesota
Turf Seed Council must submit a report
outlining the use of the grant money and
related accomplishments to the chairs and
ranking minority members of the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over agriculture.
These are onetime appropriations. Any
unencumbered balance does not cancel at the
end of the first year and is available for the
second year.

(q) $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the
second year are to establish an emerging
farmer office and hire a full-time emerging
farmer outreach coordinator. The emerging
farmer outreach coordinator must engage and
support emerging farmers regarding resources
and opportunities available throughout the
Department of Agriculture and the state. For
purposes of this paragraph, "emerging farmer"
has the meaning provided in Minnesota
Statutes, section 17.055, subdivision 1. Of the
amount appropriated each year, $25,000 is for
translation services for farmers and cottage
food producers.

(r) $222,000 the first year and $286,000 the
second year are to maintain the current level
of service delivery.