Sec. 4. Food safety cost-share program
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/bill/115/hr/3941/ih/section-4·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, shall establish a national food safety cost-share program to reimburse producers and handlers of agricultural products for costs incurred in obtaining food safety certification and in making necessary changes and upgrades to practices and equipment to improve food safety. Any domestic producer or handler that obtains a food safety certification may request reimbursement under the national food safety cost-share program.
A producer or handler that has successfully passed a food safety audit each year of the preceding three years is not eligible for reimbursement. Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may reimburse a producer or handler under the national food safety cost-share program for— not more than 75 percent of the costs incurred by the producer or handler in obtaining food safety certification through an accredited food safety certifier; and not more than 50 percent of the costs incurred by the producer or handler for changes to agricultural practices and equipment necessary to improve food safety.
The maximum amount of reimbursement provided to a producer or handler under the national food safety cost-share program shall be— $1,500 under paragraph (1)(A); and $5,000 under paragraph (1)(B). Notwithstanding paragraph (1), but subject to paragraph (2), in the case of a producer that is a limited resource, socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a veteran farmer or rancher (as defined in section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 2279(e) )), or a beginning farmer or rancher, the Secretary may increase the amount that would otherwise be provided to the producer under this subsection— up to 90 percent of the cost of certification; and up to 75 percent of the cost of practices.
Not later than March 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes the requests by, disbursements to, and expenditures for each State under the national food safety cost-share program during the current and previous fiscal year, including the number of producers and handlers served by the program in the previous fiscal year.
Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out the national food safety cost-share program $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022. Such amounts shall remain available until expended. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the national food safety cost-share program $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022.
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Sec. 4
Food safety cost-share program
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