Regional food bank grant program established, and money appropriated.

A bill for an act

relating to food support; establishing a regional food bank grant program;

appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter

142F.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

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[142F.16] REGIONAL FOOD BANK GRANTS.

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Subdivision 1.

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Establishment.

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The commissioner of children, youth, and families must

establish regional food bank grants to increase the availability of food to individuals and

families in need.

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Subd. 2.

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Distribution of appropriation.

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The commissioner must distribute money

appropriated for grants under this section to regional food banks and Minnesota Tribal

governments, as defined in section 10.65, using a formula based on the number of persons

in households having incomes below the federal poverty level and the number of unemployed

persons in the service area of the food bank or Minnesota Tribal government.

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Subd. 3.

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Allowable use of money.

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(a) Grant money distributed under this section must

be used to purchase, transport, and coordinate the distribution of food to sites approved by

the commissioner. Grant money distributed under this section may also be used to purchase

personal hygiene products, including but not limited to diapers and toilet paper.

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(b) Food and other allowable products purchased with grant money under this section

must be available at no cost at sites approved by the commissioner.

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(c) Grant money distributed under this section must not be used for the compensation

of officers, directors, trustees, key employees, and highest compensated employees as

reported on Internal Revenue Service Form 990.

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Subd. 4.

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Reporting.

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(a) Food banks and Minnesota Tribal governments receiving grant

money under this section must retain records documenting expenditures of the grant money

and comply with any additional documentation requirements imposed by the commissioner.

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(b) Food and other allowable products purchased with grant money under this section

must be available at no cost to sites approved by the commissioner.

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(c) Food banks and Minnesota Tribal governments must report on the use of grant money

received under this section to the commissioner. The commissioner must determine the

timing and form required for the reports.

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Subd. 5.

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Ineligible expenditures.

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If the commissioner determines that ineligible

expenditures were made by a food bank or Minnesota Tribal government under this section,

the ineligible amount must be repaid by the food bank or Tribal government to the

commissioner and deposited in the general fund.

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Sec. 2.
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APPROPRIATION; REGIONAL FOOD BANK GRANTS.
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$10,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner

of children, youth, and families for regional food bank grants under Minnesota Statutes,

section 142F.16. The base for this appropriation is $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2028 and

$10,000,000 in fiscal year 2029.

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