In this part the following words have the meanings indicated. “Applicant” means an entity that applies for a grant under this part. “Distribution organization” means a nonprofit entity that distributes food or equipment to emergency food organizations. “Emergency food organization” means a nonprofit entity that provides emergency food services. “Emergency food organization” includes an organization that operates: a soup kitchen; or a food pantry. “Program” means the Statewide Nutrition-Assistance Equipment Program.

There is a Statewide Nutrition-Assistance Equipment Program administered by the Department.

The purpose of the Program is to provide funding to distribution organizations to enable the distribution organizations and emergency food organizations to obtain necessary equipment.

In addition to any other responsibilities for administering the Program, the responsibilities of the Department include: designing and implementing an ongoing outreach and publicity campaign to achieve the widest possible dissemination of information about the Program to: potential applicants; and nutrition advocacy groups in the State; receiving and reviewing applications for funding; and allocating funds for approved applications in accordance with this part.

When reviewing and awarding grants under this part, the Department shall consider: the equitable distribution of funds across all geographical regions of the State; the adequacy of existing distribution organizations in the region served or intended to be served by the applicant; the estimated population to be served by the applicant; the applicant’s level of experience in operating a distribution organization; and the amount of funding and other resources available to the applicant. The Department may not release funds to a grantee under this part until the grantee establishes that the grantee has obtained matching resources or a commitment for matching resources that equals at least 50% of the grant amount. The matching resources may be in the form of cash or an in-kind equivalent acceptable to the Department.

The Department shall report annually to the Governor and, subject to § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the activities of the Program, including: financial reports; distribution of funds; community participation; and the overall effectiveness of the Program in fulfilling its stated purpose.

In this part the following words have the meanings indicated. “Administering agency” means an entity that the Department approves in accordance with § 6-414 of this subtitle to administer the Program at the county level. “Emergency food provider” means a nonprofit organization or an organization operated by a local government that provides food at no charge to needy individuals. “Emergency food provider” includes: a soup kitchen; and a food pantry. “Program” means the Maryland Emergency Food Program.

Subject to the State budget, there is a Maryland Emergency Food Program in the Department.

The purposes of the Program are to: provide funding to assist emergency food providers in purchasing food for needy individuals; encourage needy individuals to become self-sufficient; and distribute information on the State’s earned income tax credit established under § 10-704 of the Tax - General Article. When feasible and cost effective, food purchased under the Program shall be produced, grown, and harvested in the State.

The Department shall manage the Program. Each administering agency shall: provide emergency food providers with information about the Program, including Program guidelines and fund availability; accept and process requests for funding assistance from emergency food providers; and allocate funding to emergency food providers based on the procedures approved in the administering agency’s grant application under § 6-413 of this subtitle. An emergency food provider that receives a Program grant shall: use the grant to purchase food for distribution to needy individuals; as a condition of distributing food, provide to needy individuals information, developed in collaboration with the Department, that encourages self-sufficiency consistent with the goals of the Family Investment Program established under Title 5, Subtitle 3 of this article; distribute information on the State’s earned income tax credit established under § 10-704 of the Tax - General Article; and submit a report to the Department and the administering agency detailing how the grant was used and how many units of service were provided.

No more than 5% of the Program’s budget may be used to cover administrative costs of the Program. All remaining funding shall be allocated for food purchase only. Program funds may not be used for equipment or other capital expenditures. The Department shall: adopt a formula and qualifications for allocating Program funds to the counties based on county-wide statistics for: the number of families living in poverty; the unemployment rate; and the number of families receiving food stamps; submit annually to the State Advisory Council on Hunger a report detailing: the total appropriations for the Program for the current and prior fiscal years, including the amount allocated for administrative costs, the amount allocated to each administering agency, and the amount allocated to emergency food providers in each county; and how many units of service were provided in each county; and notify each county through the administering agency of the availability of Program funds under item (1) of this subsection. Each administering agency shall apply to the Department for a Program grant. The application shall include the procedures that the administering agency will use to: notify emergency food providers of the availability of Program grants; approve emergency food providers as recipients of Program grants; and allocate Program grants among approved emergency food providers. Before an administering agency may receive a Program grant, the Department must approve the application.

The Department shall adopt regulations to govern the selection and approval of an administering agency for each county. The regulations adopted under this section shall include: criteria to ensure that the selected administering agency has adequate internal controls over cash receipts, materials, supplies, and inventories; and a definition of “units of service” that shall be used to track Program utilization.