| 1 | 1 | | 1.1 A bill for an act |
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| 2 | 2 | | 1.2 relating to agriculture; appropriating money for farm to school and early care |
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| 3 | 3 | | 1.3 programs. |
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| 4 | 4 | | 1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: |
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| 5 | 5 | | 1.5 Section 1. FARM TO SCHOOL AND EARLY CARE PROGRAMS; |
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| 6 | 6 | | 1.6APPROPRIATION. |
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| 7 | 7 | | 1.7 (a) $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1.8general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for providing more fruits, vegetables, meat, |
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| 9 | 9 | | 1.9poultry, grain, and dairy for children in schools and early childhood education settings, |
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| 10 | 10 | | 1.10including, at the commissioner's discretion, providing grants to reimburse schools and early |
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| 11 | 11 | | 1.11childhood education and child care providers for purchasing equipment and agricultural |
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| 12 | 12 | | 1.12products. Organizations must participate in the National School Lunch Program or the Child |
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| 13 | 13 | | 1.13and Adult Care Food Program to be eligible. |
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| 14 | 14 | | 1.14 (b) Of the amount appropriated, $150,000 each year is for a statewide coordinator of |
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| 15 | 15 | | 1.15farm-to-institution strategy and programming. The coordinator must consult with relevant |
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| 16 | 16 | | 1.16stakeholders and provide technical assistance and training for participating farmers and |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1.17institutions, including eligible grant recipients. |
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| 18 | 18 | | 1.18 (c) At the commissioner's discretion, for state administration of federal cooperative |
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| 19 | 19 | | 1.19agreements for purchasing Minnesota grown and raised foods for schools, child care |
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| 20 | 20 | | 1.20providers, food banks, and other institutions, the commissioner may use an amount of state |
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| 21 | 21 | | 1.21funds equal to no more than 7.5 percent of the total federal funds awarded to the state. The |
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| 22 | 22 | | 1.22commissioner shall expend any available federal administrative funds awarded for this |
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| 23 | 23 | | 1.23purpose before using state funds. |
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| 24 | 24 | | 1Section 1. |
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| 25 | 25 | | 25-03696 as introduced02/11/25 REVISOR BD/NS |
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| 26 | 26 | | SENATE |
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| 27 | 27 | | STATE OF MINNESOTA |
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| 28 | 28 | | S.F. No. 1559NINETY-FOURTH SESSION |
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| 29 | 29 | | (SENATE AUTHORS: GUSTAFSON and Putnam) |
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| 30 | 30 | | OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE |
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| 31 | 31 | | Introduction and first reading02/17/2025 |
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| 32 | 32 | | Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development 2.1 (d) The appropriation under this section is made under the agricultural growth, research, |
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| 33 | 33 | | 2.2and innovation program in Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12. |
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| 34 | 34 | | 2Section 1. |
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| 35 | 35 | | 25-03696 as introduced02/11/25 REVISOR BD/NS |
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