Pennsylvania SB 217: An Act providing for family and medical leave for eligible employees.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 164
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 217
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY LANGERHOLC, FARRY, PENNYCUICK, CULVER, BARTOLOTTA,
COSTA, HUGHES, HAYWOOD, MILLER AND FONTANA, FEBRUARY 3, 2025
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY 3, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, providing for initiative to finance production of
fresh food.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
is amended by adding a part to read:
PART XXI
FOOD SECURITY
Chapter
121. Fresh Food Financing Initiative
CHAPTER 121
FRESH FOOD FINANCING INITIATIVE
Sec.
12101. Scope of chapter.
12102. Definitions.
12103. The Fresh Food Financing Initiative.
12104. Grant fund eligibility.
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12105. Grant money.
§ 12101. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to the Fresh Food Financing Initiative.
§ 12102. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Farmers' market." A building, structure or place owned,
leased or otherwise in possession by a person, municipal
corporation or public or private organization, used or intended
to be used by two or more farmers or an association of farmers
for the purpose of selling agricultural commodities directly to
consumers and which is physically located within this
Commonwealth.
"Food access organization." A nonprofit organization with
expertise in improving access to food in underserved
communities.
"Grant." A grant awarded under section 12103(f) (relating to
the Fresh Food Financing Initiative).
"Grocery store." A for-profit or not-for-profit self-service
retail establishment that primarily sells meat, seafood, fruits,
vegetables, dairy products, dry groceries, household products
and sundries.
"Program." The Fresh Food Financing Initiative established
under section 12103(a).
"Regional anchor supermarket." A company that owns multiple
grocery stores within a given region.
"Retail food establishment." As defined under section 5702
(relating to definitions).
"Underserved community." A census tract determined to be an
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area with low grocery store access by either the United States
Department of Agriculture as identified in the Food Access
Research Atlas, or through a methodology that has been adopted
for use by another governmental entity, food access organization
or the secretary.
"USDA-designated food desert." A census tract declared to be
a food desert by the United States Department of Agriculture's
Economic Research Service.
§ 12103. The Fresh Food Financing Initiative.
(a) Establishment.--The Fresh Food Financing Initiative is
established within the department.
(b) Administration of program.--The program shall be
administered by the department. The department may collaborate
with the Department of Community and Economic Development to
improve food access in this Commonwealth.
(c) Program management.--The department shall develop and
establish program guidelines and eligibility criteria to meet
the needs of program applicants and the communities served.
(d) Program priority.--
(1) The program shall promote local agricultural
products by placing priority on projects producing,
aggregating, sourcing or selling Pennsylvania agricultural
commodities, including the department's Pennsylvania
Preferred® Program, that:
(i) are located in or serve a USDA-designated food
desert;
(ii) increase business opportunities for businesses
recognized by the Department of General Services as
verified as a small diverse business or a small veteran
business; or
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(iii) are accompanied with matching private funds.
(2) (Reserved).
(e) Project class.--The department shall make grants
available in the following classes:
(1) Regional anchor supermarkets.
(2) Grocery stores.
(3) Retail food establishments.
(4) Farmers markets.
(f) Grants.--Grants in an amount not to exceed 15% of the
funding for any of the project classes established under
subsection (e) shall be awarded to qualifying applicants
selected to receive the awards for the purposes of capital
projects.
(g) Matching funds.--A grant awarded to a regional anchor
supermarket under the program must be matched by private funds
in an amount equal to the grant.
(h) Administrative or operational costs.--No more than 10%
of the funding under section 12105 (relating to grant money) may
be reserved for administrative and operational costs to manage
the program. Costs for personnel may be included as part of the
department's administrative or operational costs.
§ 12104. Grant fund eligibility.
(a) Eligible applicants.--An entity that mee