PUBLIC Law, Chapter 677, An Act To Increase Consumption of Maine Foods in State Institutions

An Act To Increase Consumption of Maine Foods in State Institutions

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §211, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 608, §2, is amended to read:

§ 211. Statement of policy

It is the policy of the State to encourage the procurement of Maine foods and food products by state institutions to increase the viability of Maine farms and food businesses, thus making a positive contribution to the State's economy and enhancing food self-sufficiency for the State. State institutions and school districts in the State shall purchase food produced by Maine farmers or fishermen, provided that food is available in adequate quantity and meets acceptable quality standards, and is priced competitively.

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §212, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 608, §2, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §212, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 608, §2, is amended to read:

2. Maine food producer. "Maine food producer" means any person who is a resident farmer or fisherman , person who fishes commercially or processor of food grown or harvested in the State, or an association of resident farmers or fishermen , persons who fish commercially or food processors in a cooperative or producer group.

Sec. 4. 7 MRSA §212, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1989, c. 443, §18 and PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §2 and affected by §4, is repealed.

Sec. 5. 7 MRSA §213, as amended by PL 2005, c. 382, Pt. C, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 6. 7 MRSA §214, as amended by PL 2011, c. 655, Pt. EE, §12 and affected by §30, is repealed.

Sec. 7. 7 MRSA §214-A is enacted to read:

§ 214-A. Maine foods procurement program

In accordance with this section, the commissioner shall establish and promote a Maine foods procurement program with the goal that, no later than 2025, 20% of all food and food products procured by state institutions are Maine food or food products.

1. Institutional market development coordinator. The commissioner shall designate an employee of the department as an institutional market development coordinator to serve as a representative to assist in the development of connections between state purchasers, Maine food producers, distributors and other institutional stakeholders.

2. Guidelines. The commissioner shall establish guidelines to assist state institutions to assess their ability to procure Maine foods and food products while minimizing costs for that procurement.

3. Annual meeting. The institutional market development coordinator may convene an annual meeting that brings together Maine food producers and food service professionals to enhance opportunities for cooperation and expand the purchase of Maine foods and food products by state institutions.

4. Advisory committee. The commissioner may establish an advisory committee to discuss strategies for expanding purchases of Maine foods and food products by state institutions. The advisory committee may be composed of representatives of state agencies, for-profit and nonprofit institutions and other relevant stakeholders identified by the commissioner.

5. Report. The commissioner shall include a description of the progress toward reaching the goal under this section in the biennial report submitted to the Legislature pursuant to section 2, subsection 5.

Sec. 8. 7 MRSA §215, as amended by PL 1989, c. 700, Pt. A, §31, is repealed.

Sec. 9. 7 MRSA §215-A is enacted to read:

§ 215-A. Rule-making authority

The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this subchapter. The rules must establish a method and baseline to determine the percentage of Maine food or food products procured by state institutions based on dollars spent. Rules adopted under this subsection are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 10. 7 MRSA §218, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 614, §4, is repealed.

Sec. 11. 7 MRSA §218-A is enacted to read:

§ 218-A. Direct producer-to-consumer agriculture market programs

1. Education and outreach. The commissioner shall provide education and outreach for the purpose of supporting Maine foods providers, such as farmers' markets, farm stands, community-supported agriculture programs and other direct producer-to-consumer venues to further the goal established in this chapter.

2. Access to Maine foods and food products for recipients of benefits. The commissioner shall improve access to Maine foods and food products for recipients of benefits under any food supplement program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services under Title 22 by:

A. Expanding opportunities for farmers to sell Maine foods and food products to recipients of food supplement program benefits by promoting the use of electronic benefits transfer cards at farmers' markets and, in partnership with a statewide federation of farmers' markets, encouraging participation in community-supported agriculture by recipients of food supplement program benefits;

B. Assisting farmers' markets in accepting payments through the electronic benefits transfer system by helping them secure equipment, including equipment that does not require the use of electricity, for processing payments through the electronic benefits transfer system; and

C. In partnership with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, educating recipients of food supplement program benefits of the opportunity to use the benefits at farmers' markets and the advantages of such use.

Sec. 12. 7 MRSA c. 8-A, sub-c. 3, as amended, is repealed.

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.

HP0850 LD 1167	PUBLIC Law, Chapter 677 on - Session - 129th Maine Legislature
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