(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
"Colorado agricultural products" means all fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, and dairyproducts, grown or raised in Colorado, and minimally processed products or value-added processed products that meet the standards for the Colorado proud designation established by the state department of agriculture.
(I) "Eligible entity" means, for the purposes of a food pantry assistance grant, either afood bank or food pantry, as defined in this subsection (1). Hunger-relief charitable organizations, as defined in section 39-22-536 (1), are not eligible entities for purposes of this section.
(II) "Eligible entity" for the purposes of a food pantry assistance grant includes a faithbased organization.
"Food bank" means a charitable organization, exempt from federal income taxationunder the provisions of the internal revenue code, that acquires and distributes food and nonfood essentials to other hunger relief programs.
"Food pantry" means an individual site that buys food or receives donations of foodsthat are then directly distributed to those in its community.
"Grant program" means the food pantry assistance grant program created in subsection (2) of this section.
"State department" means the state department of human services.
There is created in the state department the food pantry assistance grant program.The purpose of the grant program is to aid Colorado food pantries and food banks in the purchase of foods that better meet the needs of their clientele, which has expanded significantly as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. It is the intent of the general assembly that all money awarded by the grant program is expended by July 31, 2021.
(a) The state department may create a process for soliciting, vetting, awarding, and monitoring grants, pursuant to the sole source procurement authority specified in section 24-103205.
(b) The state department is authorized to use seventy thousand dollars of the total funds appropriated to the grant program for the direct and indirect costs of administering and monitoring the grant program.
(4) (a) On or before December 30, 2020, but as soon as practicable after June 22, 2020, the state department shall award one or more grants out of the federal CARES Act to eligible entities. On or before March 31, 2021, but as soon as practicable after the effective date of this section, the state department shall award one or more grants to eligible entities using state money appropriated to the grant program. In awarding grants, the state department shall, at a minimum, consider:
Providing money to a wide array of eligible entities of different types and sizes;
Ensuring that money goes directly to eligible entities that are located in a variety ofregions throughout the state;
The relative difference each award would make in the eligible entity's ability tomeet the needs of its clientele;
The ability of each eligible entity to responsibly distribute the grant money in atimely manner;
The eligible entity's willingness to administer a client-needs survey as a vehicle forcollecting input on the efficacy of its grant award; and
The ability of the eligible entity to create a feedback loop with the sate departmentthat can inform implementation of the grant program in the future.
Grant awards, including those to joint applicants, must be at least two thousand fivehundred dollars;
(I) To the extent practicable, food purchased by a grant recipient using grant moneybe designated as a Colorado agricultural product.
(II) A grant recipient may use up to twenty percent of its grant award to cover the direct and indirect expenses associated with the distribution of food, including: (A) Transportation;
Food delivery;
Expanding staff costs;(D) Refrigeration; and (E) Storage.
(III) A grant recipient shall not resell or apply other associated fees to the distribution of products purchased with money made available through a grant.
(5) This section is repealed, effective June 30, 2023.
Source: L. 2020: Entire section added, (HB 20-1422), ch. 116, p. 485, § 2, effective June 22. L. 2020, 1st Ex. Sess.: (1)(b), (2), (3)(b), IP(4)(a), (4)(b), (4)(c), and (5) amended, (HB 20B1003), ch. 6, p. 35, § 2, effective December 7.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 20-1422, see section 1 of chapter
116, Session Laws of Colorado 2020. For the legislative declaration is HB 20B-1003, see section 1 of chapter 6, Session Laws of Colorado 2020, First Extraordinary Session.