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An Act To Encourage the Purchase of Local Produce for Public Schools
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
 
School Finance and Operations Z078
 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for one Education Specialist III position to administer the Local Produce Fund established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6602, subsection 12. This position will also provide training to food staff and outreach to local farmers as well as manage the new program promoting seasonally available local products.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21	
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	1.000	1.000	
Personal Services	$65,111	$90,591	
All Other	$6,500	$6,500	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$71,611	$97,091	

School Finance and Operations Z078
 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to provide a $1 match for every $3 a school administrative unit pays for produce or minimally processed foods purchased directly from a farmer, farmers' cooperative or local food hub in the State pursuant to the provisions established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6602, subsection 12. Funds appropriated for this purpose do not lapse but must be carried forward into the next fiscal year to be used only to support the provisions of the Local Produce Fund as established in Title 20-A, section 6602, subsection 12.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21	
All Other	$430,000	$430,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$430,000	$430,000	

EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2019-20	2020-21	
			
GENERAL FUND	$501,611	$527,091	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$501,611	$527,091	

SUMMARY
This bill provides funds to the Department of Education to administer the Local Produce Fund and to provide a $1 match for every $3 expended by a school administrative unit for produce or minimally processed foods purchased directly from a farmer, farmers' cooperative or local food hub in this State.