126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1431		LR 1673(03)
	An Act To Support School Nutrition and Expand the Local Foods Economy
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2013-14	FY 2014-15	Projections  FY 2015-16	Projections  FY 2016-17
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$150,000	$150,000	$120,000
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$150,000	$150,000	$120,000
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$3,893	$0	$0
Revenue
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$3,893	$0	$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill includes General Fund appropriations totaling $150,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2013-14 to the Department of Education to develop and support local food training programs for public school food service personnel and the use of local food hubs.  Of this amount, $120,000 per year in ongoing funds is appropriated to the Local Produce Fund within the Department of Education to increase the cap on the amount of matching funds provided by the State for the acquisition of local foods by a school administrative unit (SAU) from $1,000 to $2,000 if the SAU sends a food service employee to training provided by the department.  An additional $30,000 per year is appropriated in fiscal year 2013-14 and fiscal year 2014-15 only to a newly created Local Foods Training Fund within the department to support the competitive training grants for regional training to encourage and expand the use of local foods in school food service programs.
	The bill requires the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) to utilize the Agricultural Development Fund to provide local food grants to State-based local food hubs to conduct market feasibility studies identifying the demand for minimally processed fresh food. The bill directs DACF to establish the Maine Food Hub Advisory Committee, responsible for advising DACF on the grant and loan process, evaluating applications for grants and loans and advising the Department of Education on design and evaluation of local food training programs. DACF must award at least one grant of up to $30,000 to an applicant. Any agricultural marketing loan for any project under the local food hub program may not exceed 50% of the total project cost. The bill includes a one-time Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $3,893 for printing, advertising and room rentals to DACF to make amendments to its rules relating to the allocation of grant money. DACF will be reimbursed by the Finance Authroity of Maine for these rulemaking costs.
	Pursuant to provisions in Title 10, section 1023-J related to the payment of administrative costs related to the Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund, any additional costs to the Finance Authority of Maine associated with implementing the requirements of this legislation, estimated to be approximately $4,200, will be reimbursed by the fund and no General Fund appropriation will be required.