HF 2597

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 05/06/2021 03:45pm

A bill for an act
relating to food; appropriating money for grocery safety procedures, food access,
and sustainable retail food access; requiring reports.

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

Section 1. new text begin RETAIL FOOD HANDLERS; FOOD ACCESS GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grocery new text end new text begin safety procedures grants. new text end

new text begin (a) $250,000 in fiscal year 2021 is
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants to retail
food handlers, as described in Minnesota Statutes, section 28A.05, paragraph (a). The
commissioner may award grants for recipients to execute requirements, guidance, and
recommendations related to the infectious disease known as COVID-19 provided by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and to develop
safety procedures, update and retrofit retail locations, purchase personal protective equipment
for employees, and educate the public on the need to follow safety procedures. Grants under
this subdivision equal $1,000 for stores that qualify as retail food handlers. The commissioner
must not award a business with multiple eligible locations more than $5,000 in total grants.
Applicants must provide information to the commissioner on how grant money will be used
to ensure safety of Minnesotans from COVID-19. The is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2022.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Food access grants. new text end

new text begin new text end new text begin $500,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for a grant to the Minnesota Grocers
Association to assist retail food handlers, as described in Minnesota Statutes, section 28A.05,
paragraph (a), in providing food access to communities. The Minnesota Grocers Association
must provide grants to retail food handlers for expenses relating to curbside grocery pickup,
in-store grocery pickup, and grocery delivery. To be eligible for grant money under this
subdivision, expenses related to curbside grocery pickup, in-store grocery pickup, or grocery
delivery must have occurred on or after March 13, 2020. Expenses eligible for grant
assistance under this subdivision include expenses related to coolers, freezers, shelving,
information technology equipment, or any equipment needed to administer grocery pickup
or grocery delivery services. The Minnesota Grocers Association may issue grants of $5,000
for stores that qualify as retail food handlers. The Minnesota Grocers Association must not
award a business with multiple eligible locations more than $20,000 in total grants.
Applicants for grants under this subdivision must provide information to the Minnesota
Grocers Association on (1) expenditures made related to curbside grocery pickup, in-store
grocery pickup, and grocery delivery services and how the grant money will be used to
cover those costs, or (2) planned expenditures needed to continue providing food access to
communities. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2022. The
Minnesota Grocers Association must report by February 15, 2023, to the legislative
committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance and policy on grant activity authorized
under this subdivision, including information on grant recipients and grant awards.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Sustainable retail food access grants. new text end

new text begin $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for a grant to the
Minnesota Grocers Association to assist retail food handlers, as described in Minnesota
Statutes, section 28A.05, paragraph (a), in building a sustainable retail food infrastructure
system through partnerships between retail food handlers and local hunger organizations,
schools, and other nonprofits. Retail food handlers must use the grant money to develop
infrastructure to provide food items from grocery stores to local food shelves and nonprofits
to feed individuals and communities that lack sustainable access to a stable food supply.
For purposes of this subdivision, the Minnesota Grocers Association may only award grants
to retail food handlers in an amount up to but not exceeding $10,000. Applicants for grants
under this subdivision must provide the Minnesota Grocers Association information on how
the grant money will be used and with what local organizations the store is partnering. This
is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2022. The Minnesota Grocers
Association must report by February 15, 2023, to the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over agriculture finance and policy on grant activity authorized under this subdivision,
including information on grant recipients and awards.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Federal money. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of management and budget must determine
whether the appropriations authorized under this section are eligible uses of federal funding
received from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund or any other federal money
received by the state under the American Rescue Plan Act, Public Law 117-2. If the
commissioner of management and budget determines an expense is eligible for funding
under Public Law 117-2, the amount of the eligible expense is appropriated from the account
where those amounts have been deposited and the corresponding general fund amounts
appropriated under this section are canceled to the general fund.
new text end