CT HB06842

Establishes the Local Food for Schools Incentive Program, administered by the Department of Education in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, providing reimbursements to eligible school boards for purchases of locally and regionally sourced food used in school meal programs.

Reimburses eligible boards of education at one-half of expenditures for Connecticut-grown food and one-third of expenditures for food from New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine.

Authorizes supplemental grants for school kitchen equipment, nutrition consultants, and farm-to-school training, with priority given to schools in "alliance districts" designated as economically disadvantaged.

Appropriates $300,000 for fiscal year 2024 and $1.5 million for fiscal year 2025 to the Department of Education, plus $1 million per year to the Department of Agriculture for the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Program.

Requires the Department of Education to hire two full-time employees, develop program guidelines promoting equity, establish maximum reimbursement caps based on student enrollment, and submit annual reports to the legislature beginning January 1, 2025.