§ 10-215m — Local food for schools incentive program.

(a) As used in this section: (1) “Local farm” means a farm, farmers' cooperative, food hub or wholesale distributor located in Connecticut. (2) “Regional farm” means a farm, farmers' cooperative, food hub or wholesale distributor located in New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine. (3) “Locally sourced food” means produce and other farm products that have a traceable point of origin within Connecticut that are grown or produced at, or sold by, a local farm and includes, but is not limited to, value-added dairy, fish, pork, beef, poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables and minimally processed foods. (4) “Regionally sourced food” means produce and other farm products that have a traceable point of origin within New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine that are grown or produced at, or sold by, a regional farm and includes, but is not limited to, value-added dairy, fish, pork, beef, poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables and minimally processed foods. (5) “Eligible board of education” means a local or regional board of education that is participating in the National School Lunch Program. (6) “Eligible meal program” means a meal program provided by an eligible board of education to its students or a meal provided as part of such board's participation in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Seamless Summer Option, After School Snack Program, Summer Food Service Program or the At-Risk Afterschool Meals component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture. (b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall administer the local food for schools incentive program. Such program shall provide reimbursement payments to eligible boards of education for the purchase of locally sourced food and regionally sourced food that may be used as part of such board's participation in an eligible meal program. An eligible board of education shall be entitled to receive reimbursement payments in accordance with the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection (e) of this section and in an amount equal to (1) one-half of such board's expenditures for locally sourced foods, and (2) one-third of such board's expenditures for regionally sourced foods. (c) (1) The department shall receive requests from eligible boards of education for reimbursement payments under the program in a manner similar to how the department receives applications under section 10-215b . (2) Each eligible board of education shall (A) maintain a record of such board's expenditures for all locally sourced food and regionally sourced food, as well as documentation confirming the place of origin of such food, as prescribed by the department, and (B) submit, upon request of the department, such records and documentation to the department for review. (d) Any locally sourced food or regionally sourced food for which an eligible board of education seeks reimbursement payments under this section shall comply with the nutrition standards established by the department pursuant to section 10-215e . (e) The department shall develop guidelines for the implementation of the program. Such guidelines shall (1) establish a maximum reimbursement amount based on total student enrollment for each eligible board of education, (2) assist eligible boards of education in participating in the program, and (3) promote geographic, social, economic and racial equity, which may include a preference for socially disadvantaged farmers, as defined in 7 USC 2279(a), as amended from time to time, or small farm businesses. (f) The department shall develop a survey to be distributed annually to any eligible board of education that receives reimbursement payments under this section. Such survey shall be designed to collect information to assist the department in implementing and improving the program. (g) In addition to the reimbursement payments otherwise provided pursuant to this section, the department may, within available appropriations, provide supplemental grants to eligible boards of education. Such supplemental grant funds may be expended for the purpose of purchasing kitchen equipment, engaging with school nutrition or farm-to-school consultants or training relating to the processing, preparation and serving of locally sourced food and regionally sourced food. In awarding supplemental grants under this subsection, the department shall give priority to an eligible board of education for a town designated as an alliance district pursuant to section 10-262u . (h) The department may accept gifts, grants and donations, including in-kind donations, for the administration of the local food for schools incentive program and to implement the provisions of this section. (i) Any unexpended funds appropriated for purposes of this section shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year but shall be available for expenditure during the next fiscal year. (j) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of reimbursement payments payable to eligible boards of education shall be reduced proportionately if the total of such reimbursement payments in such year exceeds the amount appropriated for such reimbursement payments for such year. (k) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit a report on the local food for schools incentive program to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a . Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, an accounting of the funds appropriated and received by the department for the program, descriptions of the reimbursement payments made under the program and an evaluation of the program.

Legislative History

(P.A. 23-167, S. 26; P.A. 24-29, S. 3.) History: P.A. 23-167 effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 24-29 made a technical change in Subsec. (d), effective May 21, 2024.