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FL S0292
Bill
AI Summary
- Transfers and amends Florida's Healthy Food Financing Initiative program from Chapter 500 to Chapter 595 (renamed "Food and Nutrition"), directing the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to provide grants and loans for construction, rehabilitation, or expansion of grocery stores, supermarkets, and community facilities in underserved communities
- Redefines "underserved community" to specifically require it be a low-income community (based on poverty rate of at least 20% or median family income not exceeding 80% of statewide/metropolitan median) where residents have low access to a full-service supermarket or grocery store
- Expands eligibility for third-party program administrators to include qualified nonprofit organizations (in addition to community development financial institutions), requiring demonstrated experience in healthy food financing and ability to assume full financial risk for loans
- Requires a minimum of three eligible projects to be funded annually, with allowable uses including site acquisition, construction, equipment, workforce training, energy efficiency, and startup costs; gives preference to Florida-based grocers and those with plans to purchase from in-state farmers
- Mandates the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to review the program after 7 years and report on economic impact and health outcomes; if deemed unsuccessful, unused funds must be returned to the General Revenue Fund
Legislative Description
Healthy Food Financing Initiative Program
Last Action
Died in Fiscal Policy
5/5/2023
Committee Referrals
Fiscal Policy3/15/2023
Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government3/7/2023
Full Bill Text
No bill text available