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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a competitive grant pilot program for certain small |
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retailers of fresh produce. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 22 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 22. SMALL RETAILERS COMPETITIVE GRANT PILOT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 22.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Fresh produce" means fresh fruits and vegetables. |
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(2) "Program" means the small retailers competitive |
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grant pilot program established under this chapter. |
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Sec. 22.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF SMALL RETAILERS COMPETITIVE |
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GRANT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The department shall develop and |
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implement a small retailers competitive grant pilot program through |
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which the department will award grants to small retailers in |
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certain low-income communities in this state to improve the health |
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of individuals in those communities by increasing their access to |
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fresh produce. |
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(b) The department by rule shall define "small retailer" for |
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purposes of this chapter. |
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(c) The department shall operate the program in each school |
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district in which at least 60 percent of the students who reside in |
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that district participate in the national free or reduced-price |
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lunch program established under 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq. |
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Sec. 22.003. ELIGIBILITY. A small retailer is eligible to |
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apply for a grant under the program if: |
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(1) the small retailer's place of business is located |
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within the boundaries of a school district described by Section |
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22.002(c); and |
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(2) there is no other retailer of fresh produce within |
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a one-mile radius of the small retailer's place of business. |
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Sec. 22.004. USE OF AWARDED GRANT MONEY. A grant recipient |
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may use grant money awarded under the program only to cover costs |
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that are approved by the department, which may include costs |
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related to: |
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(1) training employees regarding the proper storage of |
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fresh produce; |
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(2) training employees regarding the marketing of |
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fresh produce; |
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(3) obtaining marketing materials, including signage |
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and flyers; |
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(4) obtaining refrigeration units for the storage of |
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fresh produce; and |
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(5) obtaining technical assistance regarding |
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refrigeration units and other equipment required to store fresh |
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produce. |
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Sec. 22.005. GRANT RECIPIENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. A |
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grant recipient shall report information related to the program to |
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the department in the form and manner and at regular intervals as |
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prescribed by the department. Each report must include the |
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following information for the period covered by the report: |
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(1) the amount of fresh produce that was added to the |
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recipient's inventory as a result of the grant; |
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(2) the average price charged for each type of fresh |
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produce offered; |
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(3) the amount of monthly gross receipts earned from |
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the sale of fresh produce; and |
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(4) a detailed accounting of how the grant money was |
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spent. |
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Sec. 22.006. EVALUATION BY DEPARTMENT. The department shall |
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monitor and periodically evaluate: |
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(1) the performance of each grant recipient under the |
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program; |
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(2) how each grant recipient uses the grant money |
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awarded under the program; and |
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(3) the effect of the program on the grant recipient |
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and on the residents of the community served by the grant recipient. |
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Sec. 22.007. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than |
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December 1, 2008, the department shall submit an initial report to |
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the legislature that includes: |
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(1) an evaluation of the performance and operation of |
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the program; and |
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(2) recommendations on the continuation, elimination, |
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or expansion of the program. |
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Sec. 22.008. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires September 1, |
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2009. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2008, the Department of |
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Agriculture shall implement the small retailers competitive grant |
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pilot program established under Chapter 22, Agriculture Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the completion of |
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the small retailers competitive grant pilot program implemented |
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under Chapter 22, Agriculture Code, as added by this Act, but not |
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later than November 1, 2009, the Department of Agriculture shall |
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submit a final report to the legislature that includes an overall |
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evaluation of the performance and operation of the program. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |