AB611: Bill Text

LRB-4115/1

EHS:emw

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Assembly BILL 611

December 23, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Krug, Spiros, Macco, Kulp, Ballweg, Mursau, Ripp, Murphy, E. Brooks, Novak and Nerison, cosponsored by Senators Petrowski, Moulton, Hansen and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee on Agriculture.

AB611,1,3 An Act to create 20.115 (4) (ap) and 93.485 of the statutes; relating to: grants to support donation of farm and food products to food banks and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to award an annual grant to a nonprofit organization that operates as a statewide association of food banks to promote the donation of excess and unmarketable farm and food products from farms and food processing facilities to food banks. In awarding the grant, the bill requires DATCP to award $1 for every $1 of private funds the grant recipient raises for this purpose, up to a total of $250,000 in a fiscal year. Under the bill, DATCP must require the grant recipient to use the grant money to reimburse farmers and food processing facilities for the cost of harvesting, packaging for transport, and transporting to food banks excess or unmarketable farm and food products and to process, warehouse, and transport donated farm and food products to food banks, food processing facilities, and food pantries. The bill prohibits DATCP from awarding this grant after June 30, 2020.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB611,1 Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table

AB611,2 Section 2. 20.115 (4) (ap) of the statutes is created to read:

AB611,2,6 20.115 (4) (ap) Harvest for hope grant. The amounts in the schedule for the grant under s. 93.485. No money may be expended from the appropriation under this paragraph after June 30, 2020, except moneys encumbered before that date.

AB611,3 Section 3. 93.485 of the statutes is created to read:

AB611,2,8 93.485 Harvest for hope grant. (1) In this section:

AB611,2,11 (a) "Food bank" means a nonprofit organization that collects and distributes food to food pantries or other organizations that dispense food to low-income individuals to alleviate hunger.

AB611,2,13 (b) "Food bank association" means a nonprofit organization that operates as a statewide association of food banks that, together, serve all counties in this state.

AB611,2,19 (1g) The department shall award a grant from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (ap) to a food bank association to promote the donation of excess or unmarketable farm products or food products from farms and food processing facilities to food banks. In awarding this grant, the department shall award $1 for every $1 of private funds that the food bank association raises for this purpose in a given fiscal year, up to a total of $250,000 in that fiscal year.

AB611,3,8 (2) Subject to subs. (3) and (4), the department shall require the food bank association to use the grant to reimburse farmers and food processing facilities for the costs of harvesting, packaging for transport, transporting, and donating to food banks excess or unmarketable farm products or food products and to process donated farm products into nonperishable form, for transporting donated farm products or food products to food banks, food processing facilities, and food pantries or other organizations that are eligible to receive donations from food banks, for warehousing donated farm products and food products, and for related administrative expenses.

AB611,3,10 (3) No more than 11 percent of the grant may be used for administrative expenses. Administrative expenses do not include transportation expenses.

AB611,3,14 (4) Only farms and food processing facilities in this state are eligible for reimbursement under sub. (2), and only farm products and food products from farms and food processing facilities in this state may be processed, warehoused, or transported under sub. (2).

AB611,3,17 (5) The department shall require the grant recipient to report annually to the secretary on the use of the grant at the time and in the manner required by the secretary.

AB611,3,19 (6) The department may not award a grant under this section after June 30, 2020.

AB611,3,20 (End)