HF 1301

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/21/2019 05:21pm

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; appropriating money for grants to Second Harvest Heartland
to purchase milk for distribution to food banks.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND.
new text end

new text begin $1,100,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $1,100,000 in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from
the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants to Second Harvest Heartland
on behalf of Minnesota's six Feeding America food banks for the purchase of 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 (TEFAP). Second Harvest Heartland must submit
quarterly reports to the commissioner on forms prescribed by the commissioner. The reports
must include but are not limited to information on the expenditure of funds, the amount of
milk purchased, and the organizations to which the milk was distributed. 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 receiving money from this
appropriation may use up to two percent of the grant for administrative expenses. Any
unencumbered balance does not cancel at the end of the first year and is available for the
second year.
new text end