Sec. 110. Pilot projects
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Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1769 ) is amended— by striking subsection
(g)and inserting the following: In this subsection: The term agricultural producer means a farmer, rancher, or fisher (including a fisher of farm-raised fish). The term eligible school means a school or institution that participates in— a program under this Act, including the summer food service program for children under section 13 and the early care and afterschool portions of the child and adult care food program under section 17; or the school breakfast program established under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ). The Secretary shall carry out a program to assist eligible schools, State and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, land-grant colleges and universities, and nonprofit entities through grants, technical assistance, and research to implement farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. The Secretary shall award competitive grants under this subsection to be used for— training and technical assistance; supporting operations; planning; purchasing equipment; developing school gardens; implementing agricultural literacy and nutrition education; developing partnerships; and implementing farm to school programs. In making awards under this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure— geographical diversity; and equitable treatment of urban, rural, and tribal communities. In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to improve local food procurement and distribution options for agricultural producers and eligible schools. In advancing local food procurement options and other farm to school objectives, the Secretary may provide funding for projects that include innovative approaches to aggregation, processing, transportation, and distribution. The total amount provided to a grant recipient under this subsection shall not exceed $200,000. The term of an award shall not exceed 3 years. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to make awards of diverse amounts and duration so as to best match a variety of purposes, scopes, and needs of the project proposals. The Federal share of costs for a project funded through a grant awarded under this subsection shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the project. As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, a grant recipient shall provide matching support in the form of cash or in-kind contributions, including facilities, equipment, or services provided by State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and private sources. To the maximum extent practicable, in providing assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall give the highest priority to funding projects that— make local food products available on the menu of the eligible school; serve a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced price meals; incorporate experiential nutrition education activities in curriculum planning that encourage the participation of school children in farm- and garden-based agricultural education activities; demonstrate collaboration between eligible schools, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, agricultural producer groups, and other community partners; include adequate and participatory evaluation plans; demonstrate the potential for long-term program sustainability; expand the selection of local commodities for eligible schools; implement nutrition education and agricultural literacy programming in addition to those activities provided under clause (iii); and meet any other criteria that the Secretary determines appropriate. In the case of projects serving tribal communities, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, give highest priority to projects that best use products from tribal agricultural producers, as determined by the Secretary. As a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, each grant recipient shall agree to cooperate in an evaluation by the Secretary of the program carried out using grant funds. The Secretary shall provide technical assistance, research, and information to assist eligible schools, State and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers or agricultural producer groups, and nonprofit entities— to facilitate the coordination and sharing of information and resources in the Department of Agriculture that may be applicable to the farm to school program; to collect and share information on best practices; to disseminate research and data on existing farm to school programs and the potential for programs in underserved areas; and to increase awareness of, and participation in, farm to school programs among agricultural and aquaculture producers or agricultural producer groups, including beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and Access Act of 2016 and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary shall review and submit to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes the progress that has been made in identifying and eliminating regulatory and other barriers related to developing farm to school programs. In preparing the report, the Secretary shall examine— the direct and indirect regulatory compliance costs affecting the production and marketing of locally or regionally produced agricultural food products to school food programs; and the barriers to local and regional market access for small-scale production. On October 1, 2016, and each October 1 thereafter, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $10,000,000, to remain available until expended. The Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out this subsection the funds transferred under subparagraph (A), without further appropriation. In addition to other available funds, of the funds made available to the Secretary under subparagraph (A), not more than 5 percent may be used to pay administrative costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this subsection. In addition to the amounts made available under paragraph
(8)and subject to the availability of appropriations provided in advance in an appropriations Act specifically for the purpose of carrying out this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021. ; by striking subsections (h), (j), and (k); by redesignating subsection
(i)as subsection (h); and in paragraph
(5)of subsection
(h)(as so redesignated), by striking 2011 through 2015 and inserting 2016 through 2020 .
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