HB 20-1422 Summary

• Creates the Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program administered by the Department of Human Services to provide grants to food banks and food pantries for purchasing Colorado agricultural products in response to increased demand from the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Appropriates $500,000 from the general fund's care subfund for the 2019-20 fiscal year, with funds available through December 30, 2020, using federal CARES Act money transferred to the state general fund.

• Grant awards range from $2,500 to $20,000 for individual entities and $2,500 to $35,000 for joint applications; recipients must purchase Colorado agricultural products and may use up to 10% of awards for implementation costs like transportation and storage.

• Requires the state department to consider geographic diversity, entity size variation, impact on clientele needs, and recipient willingness to conduct client-needs surveys and provide feedback when awarding grants.

• Establishes the program with an automatic repeal date of June 30, 2022, and includes authority to use up to $25,000 or 5% of total funds for program administration and monitoring.