CHAPTER 447
S.P. 376 - L.D. 1214
An Act to Encourage the Use of Locally Grown Foods in School Food Service Programs
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§12 is enacted to read:
12. Local Produce Fund. The Local Produce Fund is established within the Department of Education. The fund is authorized to receive revenue from public and private sources. The fund must be held separate and apart from all other money, funds and accounts. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year must be carried forward to the next fiscal year. The fund must be used to match $1 for every $3 a school administrative unit pays for produce or minimally processed foods purchased directly from a farmer or farmers' cooperative in the State, to a maximum state contribution of $1,000. At the end of the fiscal year, the school administrative unit may provide the department with receipts documenting purchases pursuant to this subsection during that year. For purposes of this subsection, "minimally processed" means only the washing, cleaning, trimming, drying, sorting and packaging of food items or a combination of those activities. Reimbursement or partial reimbursement to school administrative units may only be made up to the amount available in the fund. Failure to reimburse does not constitute an obligation on behalf of the State to a school administrative unit.
Sec. 2. Allocation. The following funds are allocated from Other Special Revenue funds to carry out the purposes of this Act.
2002-03
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Local Produce Fund
All Other $500
Provides an allocation to allow reimbursement of $1 to local school administrative units for every $3 of produce or minimally processed foods purchased directly from a farmer or farmers' cooperative in the State.
Effective September 21, 2001, unless otherwise indicated.
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