An Act To Encourage the Purchase of Local Foods for Public Schools
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0636
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: VITELLI, DAUGHTRY, DILL, MOORE, DUNPHY, MILLETT, PAULHUS
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6602

Legislative Document
No. 636
S.P. 250
In Senate, March 3, 2021
An Act To Encourage the Purchase of Local Foods for Public 
Schools
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 1, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
Cosponsored by Senators: DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, DILL of Penobscot, MOORE of 
Washington, Representatives: DUNPHY of Old Town, McCREIGHT of Harpswell, MILLETT 
of Cape Elizabeth, PAULHUS of Bath.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§12, as amended by PL 2019, c. 511, §1 and 
affected by §2, is further amended to read:
12.  Local Produce Foods Fund.  The Local Produce Foods Fund is established within 
the department.  The fund is authorized to receive revenue from public and private sources.  
The fund must be held separate and apart from all other money, funds and accounts.  Any 
balance remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year must be carried forward to the 
next fiscal year.  The fund must be used to match $1 for every $3 a school administrative 
unit pays for produce, value-added dairy, protein or minimally processed foods purchased 
directly from a farmer, farmers' cooperative or, local food hub, local food processor or food 
service distributor in the State, to a maximum state contribution of $1,000 per school 
administrative unit in fiscal year 2019-20 and $1,500 $7,500 per school administrative unit 
in fiscal year 2020-21 2021-22 and subsequent years or $2,000 $10,000 per school 
administrative unit if funding is received and the school administrative unit sends a food 
service employee to local foods training administered by the department under subsection 
13.  All foods purchased using the fund must be grown or produced in the State.  At the 
end of the fiscal year, the school administrative unit may provide the department with 
receipts documenting purchases pursuant to this subsection during that year.  For purposes 
of this subsection, "minimally processed" means only the washing, cleaning, trimming, 
peeling, slicing, drying, sorting, refrigerating, freezing and packaging of food items or a 
combination of those activities.  Reimbursement or partial reimbursement to school 
administrative units may only be made up to the amount available in the fund.  Failure to 
reimburse does not constitute an obligation on behalf of the State to a school administrative 
unit.  The department shall apply for federal grant funding to provide state contributions in 
excess of $1,000 per school administrative unit in fiscal year 2019-20 and $1,500 $7,500 
per school administrative unit in fiscal year 2020-21 2021-22 and subsequent years 
pursuant to this subsection if applicable grant funding is available.  The department may 
accept grant funding from hospitals and other sources to provide state contributions in 
excess of $1,000 per school administrative unit in fiscal year 2019-20 and $1,500 $7,500 
per school administrative unit in fiscal year 2020-21 2021-22 and subsequent years 
pursuant to this subsection.
SUMMARY
This bill changes the name of the Local Produce Fund within the Department of 
Education to the Local Foods Fund and provides that the fund's maximum state match for 
the purchase of produce or minimally processed foods is $7,500 per school administrative 
unit in fiscal year 2021-22 and subsequent years or $10,000 per school administrative unit 
if the school administrative unit sends a food service employee to local foods training 
administered by the Department of Education.  It also provides that the food the fund may 
be used to help purchase may include value-added dairy and protein and that food may be 
purchased from local food processors and food service distributors.