March 21, 2012, Introduced by Reps. Meadows, Bauer, Hammel, Dillon, Slavens, Irwin and Cavanagh and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
A bill to establish a grant program for the purchase of local
farm products by schools; to establish criteria for awarding those
grants; and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and
local agencies and officials.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "farm-
to-school grant act".
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Department" means the department of agriculture and rural
development.
(b) "Farm product" means that term as defined in section 2 of
the Michigan right to farm act, 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.472.
(c) "Farmer" means a person engaged in a farm operation as
that term is defined in section 2 of the Michigan right to farm
act, 1981 PA 98, MCL 286.472.
(d) "Grant" means a farm-to-school grant as provided for in
this act.
(e) "Grant applicant" means a school or a technical assistance
provider on behalf of a school.
(f) "Public school academy" means that term as defined in
section 5 of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.5.
(g) "School" means 1 or more school districts, public school
academies, or nonpublic schools.
(h) "School district" means that term as defined in section 6
of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.6.
(i) "Technical assistance provider" means an individual
determined by the department to be skilled and qualified in
assisting a school in applying for and fulfilling the purpose of a
grant.
Sec. 3. (1) The department shall establish a farm-to-school
grant program. The grant program shall be designed to encourage the
purchase of farm products from local farmers and producers of farm
products for use in a school food service program. A grant may be
issued to fund equipment, resources, training, or materials for use
in a school food service program.
(2) A grant shall not exceed $15,000.00 per grant applicant.
(3) The department may accept money from state appropriations,
federal grant programs, private donations, or any other source to
fund the program.
Sec. 4. The department shall utilize existing programs and
partnerships to develop and implement opportunities for local
farmers and producers of farm products to sell farm products to
schools.
Sec. 5. (1) The department, in conjunction with grant
recipients, shall do both of the following:
(a) Identify local farmers and producers of farm products, and
processors and suppliers of farm products, and disseminate
information on food procurement procedures at schools in their
vicinity.
(b) Assist schools in obtaining local farm products.
(2) The department shall cooperate with commodity groups,
growers, and producer organizations to utilize existing web-based
marketing tools for purposes of this act.
Sec. 6. The department, in consultation with farmers and
producers of farm products and schools, may promulgate rules under
the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201
to 24.328, to establish the criteria for awarding grants and for
the administration of this act.