<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="9.11-101" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 480 OF 2022" title_number="9.11" title_name="Maryland Farm-to-School Meal Grant Pilot Program. [Effective Until July 1, 2026]" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Fund” means the Maryland Farm–to–School Meal Grant Fund.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Local” means an agricultural product grown, harvested, produced, or processed from a certified local farm.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Pilot program” means the Maryland Farm–to–School Meal Grant Pilot Program.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="9.11-102" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 480 OF 2022" title_number="9.11" title_name="Maryland Farm-to-School Meal Grant Pilot Program. [Effective Until July 1, 2026]" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>There is a Maryland Farm–to–School Meal Grant Pilot Program in the Department.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The purpose of the pilot program is to incentivize the production, procurement, and provision of local foods in school meals by awarding grants in accordance with this title.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="9.11-103" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 480 OF 2022" title_number="9.11" title_name="Maryland Farm-to-School Meal Grant Pilot Program. [Effective Until July 1, 2026]" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>There is a Maryland Farm–to–School Meal Grant Fund.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Department, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, shall administer the Fund.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Fund consists of:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>The Fund shall be used to award grants to eligible school districts to implement the Maryland Farm–to–School Meal Grant Pilot Program.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A local school district is eligible to receive a grant award from the Fund if the local school district operates reimbursable federal nutrition programs.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>The Department shall award grants from the Fund in accordance with this section to eligible local school districts in an amount equivalent to 20 cents for each meal that the school district expects to offer that will include a local food component.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The local school district may determine the meals, participating schools, and time frame for which the local school district may include a local food component.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>A local school district may use grant money for the purchase, processing, procurement, staffing, or infrastructure investments needed to meet the number of meals with a local food component.</text> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>In awarding grants under this section, the Department shall prioritize local school districts that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Demonstrate how meal reimbursements would support the development, cultivation, and longstanding commitment to the incorporation of local food components into school meals; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Demonstrate arrangements that support minority or socially disadvantaged producers, processors, distributors, or businesses.</text> </level> </level> <level label="h"> <level label="1"> <text>On or before July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Department shall submit an interim report to the General Assembly that provides an evaluation of the pilot program.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>On or before July 1, 2025, the Department shall submit a final report, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the pilot program, including a recommendation on whether or not the pilot program should be continued.</text> </level> </level> </section>