HF 467

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/10/2011 10:37am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; directing the commissioner of corrections to implement
a gardening program at state correctional facilities; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 241.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [241.241] PRISON GARDENING PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall establish a gardening
program for inmates at each correctional facility where space and security allows
for operation of a garden. The garden shall be primarily tended by inmates. The
commissioner shall strive to raise produce that can be used to feed inmates in state
correctional facilities. The commissioner shall donate any portion of the harvest that
cannot be used to feed inmates to food shelves and charities located near the correctional
facility where the produce was grown. The commissioner may sell, for profit, produce
that cannot be donated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall include the following information in the
annual report to the legislature required under section 241.016:
new text end

new text begin (1) the type and amount of produce raised in the gardening program;
new text end

new text begin (2) the amount of the harvest used to feed inmates and the amount used for other
purposes;
new text end

new text begin (3) the amount of inmate time dedicated to the gardening program;
new text end

new text begin (4) the cost savings to the department from using prison-grown food to feed inmates;
and
new text end

new text begin (5) the cost of operating the program.
new text end