Substitute House Bill No. 6385
Public Act No. 21-155
AN ACT CONCERNING ENHANCEMENTS TO CERTAIN
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subdivision (13) of section 22-6g of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October
1, 2021):
(13) "Fresh produce" means fruits and vegetables that have not been
processed in any manner and chicken eggs;
Sec. 2. Section 22-6q of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021):
(a) There is established the Connecticut Farmers' Market/Senior
Nutrition Program which shall be provided for from funds available to
the commissioner and from other sources as such funds may become
available. The program shall supply Connecticut-grown fresh produce
to senior participants through the distribution of vouchers that are
redeemable only at designated Connecticut farmers' markets. For
purposes of this section, a "senior participant" is defined as a person who
is sixty years of age or older and is currently residing in elderly housing,
or is a participant of a registered congregate meal site, or has been
identified by a municipal elderly agent as being at nutritional risk. The Substitute House Bill No. 6385
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program is designed to provide both a supplemental source of fresh
produce for the dietary needs of seniors who are judged to be at
nutritional risk and to stimulate an increased demand for Connecticut-
grown produce at Connecticut farmers' markets. For purposes of this
section, "fresh produce" means fruits and vegetables that have not been
processed in any manner and chicken eggs.
(b) The program shall be administered by the Commissioner of
Agriculture who shall maintain all conditions for its operations.
Sec. 3. Section 22-38 of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021):
(a) For purposes of this section, "farm products" means products
resulting from the practice of agriculture or farming, as defined in
section 1-1 and "Connecticut-Grown" or "CT-Grown" means produce
and other farm products that have a traceable point of origin within
Connecticut.
(b) Only farm products grown or produced in Connecticut shall be
advertised or sold in Connecticut as "Connecticut-Grown" or "CT-
Grown". Farm products grown or produced in Connecticut may be
advertised or sold in Connecticut as "Native", "Native-Grown", "Local"
or "Locally-Grown". Farm products grown or produced within a ten-
mile radius of the point of sale for such farm products may be advertised
or sold in Connecticut as "Native", "Native-Grown", "Local", or "Locally-
Grown". Any person, firm, partnership or corporation advertising or
labeling farm products as ["Native", "Native-Grown", "Local", "Locally-
Grown", or] "Connecticut-Grown" or "CT-Grown" shall be required to
furnish written proof within ten days of the sale of such products that
such products were grown or produced in Connecticut or within a ten-
mile radius of the point of sale, as applicable, if requested to do so by
the Commissioner of Agriculture or said commissioner's designee. Any
person who violates any provision of this subsection shall be fined not Substitute House Bill No. 6385
Public Act No. 21-155 3 of 11
more than one hundred dollars for each product label in violation of this
subsection.
(c) In addition to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, any
person who sells any farm product as "Connecticut-Grown" or "CT-
Grown" at a farmers' market in this state shall offer such product for sale
in the immediate proximity of a sign that is: (1) Readily visible to
consumers, (2) not less than three inches by five inches in size, and (3)
in a form that is substantially as follows:
[THIS FARM PRODUCT IS ] CONNECTICUT-GROWN FARM
PRODUCT. [THIS FARM PRODUCT WAS GROWN OR PRODUCED
BY THE FOLLOWING PERSON OR BUSINESS: ] (INSERT THE NAME
AND [ADDRESS OF PERSON OR BUSINESS) ] THE TOWN FOR THE
FARM OF ORIGIN).
The lettering on any such sign shall be of a size, font or print that is
clearly and easily legible. Such a sign shall accompany each type of farm
product that any such person sells as "Connecticut-Grown" or "CT-
Grown". Any person who violates the provisions of this subsection shall
receive a warning for the first violation and for any subsequent violation
shall be fined one hundred dollars for each violation.
Sec. 4. Section 22-39f of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021):
Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of sections 22-
39a to 22-39e, inclusive, section 22-39g, any regulation adopted pursuant
to subsection (h) of section 22-39g or who obstructs or hinders the
Commissioner of Agriculture or the [Commissioner of Consumer
Protection or any of their] commissioner's authorized agents in the
performance of their duties under the provisions of said sections, shall
be fined [not less than twenty-five dollars or more than] fifty dollars for
the first offense and [not less than one hundred dollars or more than] Substitute House Bill No. 6385
Public Act No. 21-155 4 of 11
two hundred dollars for each subsequent offense. In addition to such
fine, the Commissioner of Agriculture is authorized to deny, suspend or
revoke [the] any license, permit, certificate or registration provided for
in said sections issued to such person, in accordance with the provisions
of chapter 54.
Sec. 5. Section 22-61j of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021):
Any person who violates the provisions of sections 22-61c to 22-61f,
inclusive, [shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor and] shall be fined
one hundred dollars for the first offense and two hundred dollars for
each subsequent offense.
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) On and after July 1, 2021, any
voucher issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture pursuant to section
22-6p or 22-6q of the general statutes, as amended by this act, shall have
a value of not less than twenty dollars.
Sec. 7. Section 22-6i of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) The Department of Public Health WIC client screening processes
and records shall provide the basis for identifying participants eligible
for receipt of vouchers.
(b) Local WIC agencies shall distribute vouchers at designated
distribution clinics to participants in the manner specified by the
department in the program and procedures guide for distribution clinic
staff. Local WIC agency services shall ensure that:
(1) Vouchers are distributed only to participants through verification
that the client name and number on the distribution registry provided
by the Department of Public Health correspond with the client name
and number printed on the WIC identification folder in the possession Substitute House Bill No. 6385
Public Act No. 21-155 5 of 11
of the participant.
(2) Each eligible participant is issued five three-dollar vouchers
during each distribution as authorized by the department.
(3) The voucher serial numbers issued to the participant correspond
to the number in the distribution registry in which the participant
signature is affixed.
(4) Each voucher issued and the distribution registry are properly
signed by the participant in the presence of local agency staff at the time
of distribution or, if a proxy is utilized, a written, electronic or verbal
communication is made by the participant or such proxy which
acknowledges receipt from the local agency staff at the time of
distribution.
(5) [A proxy is not allowed to act on behalf of a participant, except in
the case of a parent or legal guardian acting on behalf of a participant
child or infant, or in the case of a husband acting on behalf of his wife.]
Any adult may act as a proxy provided the participant designates such
adult as his or her proxy in writing.
(6) Each participant is provided a thorough explanation of program
guidelines and participant responsibility as outlined by the department.
(7) All CFM/WIC support materials are put into use as outlined by
the department.
(8) Accurate and complete records of all related CFM/WIC activities
in the possession of a WIC local agency are maintained and retained for
a minimum of four years. In the event of litigation, negotiation, or audit
findings, the records shall be retained until all issues arising from such
actions have been resolved or until the end of the regular four-year
period, whichever is later. Substitute House Bill No. 6385
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(9) All agency records pertaining to this program shall be made
available for inspection to representatives of USDA-FNS, the
Comptroller General of the United States, the state Auditors of Public
Accounts, the department, and the Department of Public Health as
necessary, at any time during normal business hours, and as frequently
as is deemed necessary for inspection and audit. Confidentiality of
personal information shall be maintained as to all program participants
at all times.
Sec. 8. Section 22-6j of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Participants shall be responsible for:
(1) Qualifying under WIC program guidelines and attending a
designated distribution clinic during the relevant distribution cycles
when vouchers are dispersed;
(2) Properly countersigning a voucher [at time of use in the presence
of the certified vendor who is accepting each voucher in exchange for
fresh produce] prior to use;
(3) Using vouchers only to purchase Connecticut-grown fresh
produce from certified vendors who display CFM/WIC signs at
authorized farmers' markets;
(4) Redeeming vouchers on or before the expiration date printed on
the face of the voucher or surrendering all claim to the value of vouchers
that remain unredeemed;
(5) Ensuring vouchers that are received are not assigned to any other
party other than as provided by the department;
(6) Reporting violations or problems to the department or the local
agency; and Substitute House Bill No. 6385
Public Act No. 21-155 7 of 11
(7) Reporting all incidents of lost or stolen vouchers to the local
agency.
Sec. 9. Subsection (b) of section 22-6l of the general statutes is repealed
and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) [Vendor certification shall expire at the end of each year of
issuance.] Each vendor certification shall be valid for three years. The
department shall not limit the number of vendors who may become
certified under CFM/WIC. A vendor who satisfies all the following
criteria shall be certified to accept vouchers:
(1) Agrees to maintain only Connecticut-grown fresh produce on
display in a certified vendor stall;
(2) Indicates an intent to participate in one or more authorized
farmers' markets;
(3) Demonstrates participation in training on CFM/WIC rules and
procedures through attendance in an entire session of one of the
scheduled training meetings conducted by department staff;
(4) Submits a signed statement of receipts of a vendor certification
handbook;
(5) Submits a completed application and crop plan to the department
prior to the deadline established by the department; and
(6) Submits completed and signed certified vendor agreements to the
department.
Sec. 10. Section 22-26j of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
The Department of Agriculture shall establish and administer a farm
viability matching grant program to any agricultural not-for-profit Substitute House Bill No. 6385
Public Act No. 21-155 8 of 11
organization, municipality, group of municipalities, regional council of
governments organized under the provisions of sections 4-124i to 4-
124p, inclusive, or group of municipalities that have established a
regional interlocal agreement pursuant to sections 7-339a to 7-339l,
inclusive, to further agricultural viability. Such grants may be used for
the following purposes: (1) Local capital projects that foster agricultural
viability, including, but not limited to, processing facilities and farmers'
markets; (2) the development and implementation of agriculturally
friendly land use regulations and local farmland protection strategies
that sustain and promote local agriculture; (3) the development of new
marketing programs and venues through or in which a majority of
products sold are grown in the state; [and] (4) the development and
implementation of programs and services that promote farm and
farmland access and transfer of such farms; and (5) the development of
urban and nontraditional farming practices.
Sec. 11. Subsection (d) of section 4b-3 of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from
passage):
(d) Notwithstanding any other statute or special act to the contrary,
the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall be the sole person
authorized to represent the state in its dealings with third parties for the
construction, development, acquisition or leasing of real estate for
housing the offices or equipment of all agencies of the state or for the
state-owned public buildings or realty, as provided for in sections 2-90,
4b-1 to 4b-5, inclusive, 4b-21, 4b-23, 4b-24, 4b-26, 4b-27, 4b-30 and 4b-32,
subsection (c) of section 4b-66 and sections 4b-67 to 4b-69, inclusive, 4b-
71, 4b-72, 10-95, 10a-72, 10a-89, 10a-90, 10a-114, 10a-130, 10a-144, 17b-
655, [22-64,] 22a-324, 26-3, 27-45, 32-1c, 32-39, 48-9, 51-27d and 51-27f,
except that (1) the Joint Committee on Legislative Management may
represent the state in the planning and construction of the Legislative
Office Building and related facilities, in Hartford; (2) the Chief Court Substitute House Bill No. 6385
Public Act No. 21-155 9 of 11
Administrator may represent the state in providing for (A) space for the
Court Support Services Division as part of a new or existing contract for
an alternative incarceration program pursuant to section 54-103b or a
program developed pursuant to section 46b-121k, or (B) other real estate
needs of the Judicial Branch when delegated authority to do so by the
Commissioner of Administrative Services; (3) the board of trustees of a
constituent unit of the state system of higher education may represent
the state in the leasing of real estate for housing the offices or equipment
of such constituent unit, provided no lease payments for such realty are
made with funds generated from the general revenues of the state; (4)
the Labor Commissioner may represent the state in the leasing of
premises required for employment security operations as provided in
subsection (c) of section 31-250; (5) the Commissioner of Developmental
Services may represent the state in the leasing of residential property as
part of the program developed pursuant to subsection (b) of section 17a-
218, provided such residential property does not exceed two thousand
five hundred square feet, for the community placement of persons
eligible to receive residential services from the department; (6) the
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services may represent
the state in the leasing of residential units as part of a program
developed pursuant to section 17a-455a, provided each such residential
unit does not exceed two thousand five hundred square feet; and (7) the
Connecticut Marketing Authority may represent the state in the leasing
of land or markets under the control of the Connecticut Marketing
Authority, and, except for the housing of offices or equipment in
connection with the initial acquisition of an existing state mass transit
system or the leasing of land by the Connecticut Marketing Authority
for a term of one year or more in which cases the actions of the
Department of Transportation and the Connecticut Marketing
Authority shall be subject to the review and approval of the State
Properties Review Board. The Commissioner of Administrative Services
may establish and implement any procedures necessary for the
commissioner to assume the commissioner's responsibilities as said sole Substitute House Bill No. 6385
Public Act No. 21-155 10 of 11
bargaining agent for state realty acquisitions and shall perform the
duties necessary to carry out such procedures. The Commissioner of
Administrative Services may appoint, within the department's budget
and subject to the provisions of chapter 67, such personnel deemed
necessary by the commissioner to carry out the provisions of this
section, including experts in real estate, construction operations,
financing, banking, contracting, architecture and engineering. The
Attorney General's office, at the request of the Commissioner of
Administrative Services, shall assist the commissioner in contract
negotiations regarding the purchase, lease or construction of real estate.
Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 51-344a of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from
passage):
(a) Whenever the term "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" or
"judicial district of Hartford-New Britain at Hartford" is used or referred
to in the following sections of the general statutes, it shall be deemed to
mean or refer to the judicial district of Hartford on and after September
1, 1998: Sections 1-205, 1-206, 2-48, 3-21a, 3-62d, 3-70a, 3-71a, 4-61, 4-160,
4-164, 4-177b, 4-180, 4-183, 4-197, 5-202, 5-276a, 8-30g, 9-7a, 9-7b, 9-369b,
10-153e, 12-208, 12-237, 12-268l, 12-312, 12-330m, 12-405k, 12-422, 12-448,
12-454, 12-456, 12-463, 12-489, 12-522, 12-554, 12-565, 12-572, 12-586f, 12-
597, 12-730, 13b-34, 13b-235, 13b-315, 13b-375, 14-57, 14-66, 14-67u, 14-
110, 14-195, 14-311, 14-311c, 14-324, 14-331, 15-125, 15-126, 16-41, 16a-5,
17b-60, 17b-100, 17b-238, 17b-531, 19a-85, 19a-86, 19a-123d, 19a-425, 19a-
498, 19a-517, 19a-526, 19a-633, 20-12f, 20-13e, 20-29, 20-40, 20-45, 20-59,
20-73a, 20-86f, 20-99, 20-114, 20-133, 20-154, 20-156, 20-162p, 20-192, 20-
195p, 20-202, 20-206c, 20-227, 20-238, 20-247, 20-263, 20-271, 20-307, 20-
341f, 20-363, 20-373, 20-404, 20-414, 21a-55, 21a-190i, 22-7, [22-64,] 22-228,
22-248, 22-254, 22-320d, 22-326a, 22-344b, 22-386, 22a-6b, 22a-7, 22a-16,
22a-30, 22a-34, 22a-53, 22a-60, 22a-62, 22a-63, 22a-66h, 22a-106a, 22a-119,
22a-180, 22a-182a, 22a-184, 22a-220a, 22a-220d, 22a-225, 22a-226, 22a- Substitute House Bill No. 6385
Public Act No. 21-155 11 of 11
226c, 22a-227, 22a-250, 22a-255l, 22a-276, 22a-310, 22a-342a, 22a-344, 22a-
361a, 22a-374, 22a-376, 22a-408, 22a-430, 22a-432, 22a-438, 22a-449f, 22a-
449g, 22a-459, 23-5e, 23-65m, 25-32e, 25-36, 28-5, 29-143j, 29-158, 29-161z,
29-323, 30-8, 31-109, 31-249b, 31-266, 31-266a, 31-270, 31-273, 31-284, 31-
285, 31-339, 31-355a, 31-379, 35-3c, 35-42, 36a-186, 36a-187, 36a-471a, 36a-
494, 36a-587, 36a-647, 36a-684, 36a-718, 36a-807, 36b-26, 36b-27, 36b-30,
36b-50, 36b-71, 36b-72, 36b-74, 36b-76, 38a-41, 38a-52, 38a-134, 38a-139,
38a-140, 38a-147, 38a-150, 38a-185, 38a-209, 38a-225, 38a-226b, 38a-241,
38a-337, 38a-470, 38a-620, 38a-657, 38a-687, 38a-774, 38a-776, 38a-817,
38a-843, 38a-868, 38a-906, 38a-994, 42-103c, 42-110d, 42-110k, 42-110p,
42-182, 46a-56, 46a-100, 47a-21, 49-73, 51-44a, 51-81b, 51-194, 52-146j, 53-
392d and 54-211a.
Sec. 13. Sections 22-62 to 22-73, inclusive, and sections 22-75 to 22-77,
inclusive, and section 22-78a of the general statutes are repealed.
(Effective from passage)