Resolve, Directing the Departmentof Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources To Develop a Plan To Facilitate the Procurement of Local Produce by Food Stamp Recipients
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0315
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: LANGLEY, SHERMAN, CLARK, EATON, SCHATZ

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124th MAINE LEGISLATU E 
~TRS'l' RE<.;ULAK S~SSION-2009 
Legislative Document 
No. 315 
H.P.251 
House of Representatives, February 3,2009 
Resolve, Directing the Departmentof Health and Human Services 
and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources To 
Develop a Plan To Facilitate the Procurement of Local Produce by 
Food Stamp Recipients 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative LANGLEY of Ellsworth. 
Cosponsored by Senator SHERMAN of Aroostook and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CLARK of Easton, EATON of Sullivan, SCHATZ of Blue Hill. 
PrinlcJ PIII~LyC',:J p.lper 
Sec. 1. Plan for purchase of healthy food locally. Resolved: 
That the 
Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, Food and 
Rural Resources shall work together to develop a plan that will encourage food stamp 
recipients to purchase fresh produce from local farmers and that will facilitate food stamp 
recipients' access to local fann products. The departments shall consult with local fanners 
and advocates for low-income people in developing this plan. The departments shall 
consider the fanners' market projects in Lewiston and other states that allow fanners to 
receive electronic benefit transfers or other methods of payment under the federal 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The departments shall explore options for 
grants, pilot projects and waivers that may be available under the federal Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 in the course of developing the plan; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services 
and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall present a report to the 
Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services with findings and 
recommendations, including any necessary legislation, for the plan described in section 1 
no later than January 15, 2010. The Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
Services is authorized to submit a bill related to the subject matter of the report to the 
SUMMARY 
This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the 
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to develop a plan that will 
encourage food stamp recipients to purchase fresh produce from local fanners and that 
will facilitate food stamp recipients' access to local fann products. It requires the 
departments to consult with local farmers and advocates for low-income people in 
developing this plan. It requires the departments to consider the fanners' market projects 
in Lewiston and other states that allow fanners to receive electronic benefit transfers or 
other methods of payment under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 
It requires the departments to explore options for grants, pilot projects and waivers that 
may be available under the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 in the course of 
developing the plan. It requires the departments to present a report to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services with findings and recommendations, including 
any necessary legislation, for the plan no later than January 15, 2010. It authorizes the 
Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services to submit a bill related to the 
subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature. 
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