Revision: Dec. 15, 2023, 4:06 p.m.
HB 1678-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2697
08/02
HOUSE BILL 1678-FN
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire farm to school local food incentive pilot program.
SPONSORS: Rep. Simpson, Rock. 33; Rep. Bordes, Belk. 5; Rep. Wolf, Merr. 7; Rep. Merchant, Sull. 6; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11; Rep. Vallone, Rock. 5; Rep. M. Murray, Hills. 37; Rep. Knab, Rock. 12; Rep. Massimilla, Graf. 1; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11
COMMITTEE: Education
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a New Hampshire farm to school local food incentive pilot program.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2697
08/02
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire farm to school local food incentive pilot program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; New Hampshire Farm to School Pilot Program. Amend RSA 425 by inserting after section 2-b the following new section:
425:2-c New Hampshire Farm to School Pilot Program.
I. The department of agriculture, markets, and food shall establish a 2-year pilot program to use grants to reimburse New Hampshire school administrative units for money spent to purchase food from New Hampshire and New England producers. Only school districts participating in the National School Lunch Program shall be eligible for reimbursement grants.
II. The department shall administer an open grant request for applications (RFA) process, with the goal of awarding funds to one applicant from each county in the state. A selection committee will be assembled by the department of agriculture to review the received proposals and select those to be submitted for funding through the pilot program. The selection committee will be made up of 6 individuals qualified because of their knowledge of New Hampshire agriculture, experience with school food service, school nutrition, or farm-to-school processes and may include members from the university of New Hampshire cooperative extension, the department of education, and the department of agriculture, markets, and food. If each county is not represented in the application process, the selection committee may make a second award to another interested school or school district in another county.
III. School district applications shall be scored based on criteria and the department shall ensure that the recipients of grants represent a variety of school sizes, geographic locations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Awarded school districts shall participate both years of the pilot program. The department shall develop guidelines for the implementation of the program. Such guidelines shall establish a formula for reimbursement, including maximum and minimum reimbursement amounts, based on total student enrollment for each school district. Reimbursement funds may be used to purchase food or kitchen equipment specifically for use in processing, cooking, storing, and serving local food.
IV. Foods purchased under this program shall originate in New Hampshire or New England. Food purchases by school districts shall include food hub purchases, direct purchases from farms, and purchase through conventional distributors. The place of origin shall be confirmed through self-attestation from the originating producer, or any other means required by the federal government or the department of agriculture.
V. Eligible foods shall include dairy, fish, pork, beef, poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables, cider, and maple syrup. Processed dairy, minimally processed proteins, and minimally processed produce shall be included. Fluid milk shall be excluded from the program.
VI. All food purchased through the program shall comply with National School Lunch Program and federal Child Nutrition Program guidelines.
VII. Food may be served in the school breakfast, school lunch or fresh fruit and vegetable programs. School districts making a claim for reimbursement shall submit a copy of the invoices for eligible purchases monthly. Products shall be reimbursed at 33.3 percent of cost for in-state purchases and 16.6 percent for purchases from other New England states. At least half of the food purchased by each participating school administrative unit shall come from New Hampshire producers. After year one of the grant period, all unspent funds will be reallocated to other schools in the pilot program. In an event where participating school districts are unable to continue in year 2 of the pilot, an additional RFA will be released for counties that are no longer represented in the program.
VIII. The department may contract with New Hampshire Farm to School to support program coordination and management.
IX. The department shall evaluate the pilot program using a survey and interviews of both school food service directors and producers, including farmers, election committee members, and the program coordinator. A report shall be provided to the New Hampshire house of representatives environment and agriculture committee and the New Hampshire senate energy and natural resources committee at the end of each fiscal year about the progress of the pilot program.
2 Appropriation: The sum of $120,500 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 and the sum of $120,500 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, shall be appropriated to the department of agriculture, markets, and food to fund the New Hampshire farm to school local food incentive pilot grant program. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
24-2697
12/11/23
HB 1678-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT establishing a New Hampshire farm to school local food incentive pilot program.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None
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Expenditures | $0 | $120,500 | $120,500 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund
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Appropriations | $0 | $120,250 | $120,500 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund
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• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] Yes • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Local Revenue | $0 | $120,500 | $120,500 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes a New Hampshire farm to school local food incentive pilot program.
This bill appropriates $120,500 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 and $120,500 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 to the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food to fund the New Hampshire farm to school local food incentive pilot grant program. Funds are awarded to school districts that shall participate for both years of the pilot program.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food