An Act To Promote Sustainable Food Policies
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0745
Committee Amendment CA_A-SA_A_S298 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 7 MRSA §219

SENATE AMENDMENT" A" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 283, 
L.D. 745, Bill, "An Act To Promote Sustainable Food Policies" 
Amend the amendment by striking out everything after the title and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§l-C is enacted to read: 
I-C. 
Agriculture 
Maine Farm-to-Plate Not Authorized 
Commission 
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §219 is enacted to read: 
§219. Maine Farm-to-Plate Commission 
MRSA §219 
The Maine Farm-to-Plate Commission established in Title 5, section 12004-1, 
subsection 1-C and referred to in this section as "the commission," is established to 
advise the commissioner on critic~al issues of agricultural regulation, food safety and local 
and regional food-related issues. Membership and duties of the commission are set forth 
in this section. 
1. Members. The commission consists of members appointed as follows: 
A. One representative of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, who serves 
as chair of the commission, appointed by the Chancellor of the University of Maine 
System; 
B. One member of a statewide organization dedicated to ensuring food for the State's 
future, jointly appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives; 
C. 
One member of a statewide organization dedicated to ensuring sustainable 
agriculture in the State, jointly appointed by the President of the Senate and the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
Page I - 126LR1890(OS)-1 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
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SENATE AMENDMENTA "to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "An to S.P. 283, L.D. 745 
D. 
One member of a statewide organization dedicated to organic farming and 
gardening, jointly appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives; and 
E. 
One member of a statewide organization organized to strengthen the State's 
farming, fishing and food economy, jointly appointed by the President of the Senate 
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
The commission shall invite as members 2 small-scale farm owners, 2 large-scale farm 
owners, one small-scale producer of prepared food, one large-scale producer of prepared 
food, one member representing a local or regional food policy council, one member 
representing a statewide organization dedicated to encouraging tourism in the State and 
one member representing a statewide organization dedicated to aquaculture in the State. 
2, Terms. Each member of the commission serves for a term of 3 years. If a 
member is unable to complete the term. the appointing authority shall appoint a person to 
serve out the remainder of the unexpired term. 
3. Duties. The commission shall: 
A. 
Advise and assist the commissioner in the implementation and oversight of 
initiatives recommended by the commission; 
B. By February 1st annually, submit a report concerning the commission's activities 
to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, the Clerk of the Senate, the Clerk of the House of Representatives 
and the chairs of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over agriculture, conservation and forestry matters; and 
C. 
Periodically review and update the strategic plan for agricultural economic 
development developed in accordance with subsection 4. 
4. Strategic plan. The commission shall develop a strategic plan for agricultural 
economic development. In developing the strategic plan, the commission shall: 
A. Inventory the State's food system infrastructure by gathering existing data, studies 
and analysis about: 
(1) The types of foods produced in the State, the number of producers of each 
type of food, the amount of each type of food produced and the financial viability 
of each food-producing sector; 
(2) The types of food processors in the State, how much food produced in the 
State is purchased by processors within the State and the financial viability of the 
food processing sector in the State; 
(3) The current and potential markets in which the State's food producers and 
processors are able to sell their products; 
(4) The extent of existing agricultural lands that could be expanded and the 
resources available to expand food production in the State; 
(5) The potential for new farmers and food processors to enter the local food 
economy, the methods for new farmers to acquire land and other farm 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
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SENATE AMENDMENT-A" to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 283, L.D. 745 
infrastructure and the availability of and barriers to farm and processing labor; 
and 
(6) The potential for entirely new local products and the existence of barriers to 
farmers and processors entering new markets; 
B. Identify gaps in the infrastructure and distribution systems and ways to address 
these gaps; and 
C. Use resources available from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. 
5. Implementation. The commission shall use the information gathered in the 
course of developing and updating the strategic plan required under subsection 4 to 
identify methods and the funding necessary to strengthen links among producers, 
processors and markets, including, but not limited to, actions: 
A. 
Supporting of the work of existing farm-to-schoo1 programs to increase the 
purchase of local foods by schools, with a particular emphasis on procurement of 
nutrient-dense animal foods; 
B. Collaborating with the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and 
with other relevant departments to increase procurement of local foods by businesses 
and institutions; and 
C. 
Educating lenders regarding the information collected under this section to 
facilitate availability of agricultural financing. 
6. Funds. The commission may seek and accept gifts, donations and grants from 
any public or private source to support farm-to-table direct marketing, including farmers' 
markets and community-supported agriculture operations and to support and encourage 
so-called regional community food hubs. The commission may use technical assistance, 
loans, grants or other means approved by the commissioner. 
Sec. 2. Development of strategic plan. The Maine Farm-to-Plate Commission 
shall develop the strategic plan for agricultural economic development pursuant to Title 
7, section 219, subsection 4 by November 1,2014. 
Sec. 3. 
Report. The Maine Farm-to-Plate Commission shall investigate the 
feasibility, logistics and propriety of instituting in the State food sovereignty under which 
local governments may regulate local food systems by local ordinance. The commission 
shall submit a report of its findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry no latler than January 1,2014.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment strikes the committee amendment and replaces it with language that: 
1. Establishes the Maine Farm-to-Plate Commission to collaborate with and advise 
the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry on critical issues of 
agricultural regulation, food safety and local and regional food-related issues; 
2. Directs the commission to develop a strategic plan for agricultural economic 
development; 
SENA 'TE AMENDMENT 
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SENATE AMENDMENT-A., "to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "An to S.P. 283, L.D. 745 
3. 
Directs the commission to use the information gathered in the course of 
developing and updating the strategic plan to identify methods and the funding necessary 
to strengthen links among producers, processors and markets; and 
4. Requires the commission to investigate the feasibility, logistics and propriety of 
instituting in the State food sovereignty under which local governments may regulate 
local food systems by local ordinance and directs the commission to submit a report of its 
findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry no 
later than January 1, 2014. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
SPONSORE ~~ 
(See attached) 
DBY' 
(Senator JACKSO 
CO 
. 
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UNTY: Aroostook 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/17 /13 
~ac 
LD745 
LR 1890(05) 
An Act To Promote Sustainable Food Policies 
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment-A' to Committee Amendment "A" 
Sponsor: Sen. Jackson of Aroostook 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
:Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry associated with collaborating with the 
commission can be absorbed within existing budg1eted resources. 
Additional costs to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to serve on the commission can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR1890(05) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1