Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANTWAN L. MCCLELLAN
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman ERIK K. SIMONSEN
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman HAROLD "HAL" J. WIRTHS
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Space, Assemblywomen Stanfield and Dunn
SYNOPSIS
Directs Dept. of Agriculture to purchase agricultural food products from NJ farmers impacted by coronavirus pandemic, and distribute products to school breakfast and lunch programs and food banks; appropriates $1 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the purchase of agricultural food products from New Jersey farmers affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Agriculture shall establish a program to purchase agricultural food products from farmers in the State who are unable to sell their agricultural food products due to disruptions in the market or food supply chain caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The department shall pay fair market value for any agricultural food products it purchases from a farmer under the program established pursuant to this section. The department shall donate and distribute any agricultural food products it purchases to free and reduced price school lunch and breakfast programs, and food banks in the State.
b. The department shall develop an application process and criteria for farmers, schools, and food banks that wish to participate in the program. The department shall prioritize farmers, schools, and food banks with the greatest need.
c. The department shall utilize existing staff and resources to the greatest extent practicable, and may work in consultation with food banks or other nonprofit organizations, to establish and implement the program pursuant to this section.
2. There is appropriated to the Department of Agriculture the sum of $1,000,000 from the General Fund to establish and implement the program pursuant to section 1 of this act. The department may expend up to five percent of the moneys appropriated pursuant to this section for administrative costs associated with the program.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the 31st day after expiration of the Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020 concerning the Coronavirus pandemic.
STATEMENT
This bill would direct the New
Jersey Department of Agriculture to establish a program to purchase
agricultural food products from farmers in the State who are unable to sell
their products due to disruptions in the market or food supply chain caused by
the coronavirus pandemic. Under the program, the department would
donate and distribute any agricultural food products it purchases to free and reduced price school breakfast and lunch programs and food banks across the State, based on need. The bill would direct the department, to the greatest extent practicable, to utilize existing staff and resources to implement the program. The department would also be permitted to work in consultation with food banks or other nonprofits to establish and implement the program. The bill would appropriate $1 million from the General Fund for the program.