HB 543: Create a food desert elimination grant program

Sec. 122.162. (A) As used in this section, "food desert" means a geographic area in which residents have limited access to fruits, vegetables, and other healthful foods, through grocery stores, farmer's markets, or other food providers, as identified by the United States department of agriculture food access research atlas. (B) The department of development shall establish and administer a food desert elimination grant program to incentivize the establishment of grocery stores in food deserts to provide access to healthy food in this state. The department may adopt requirements and procedures as are necessary to implement and administer the program. An individual grocery retailer shall not receive a grant that exceeds fifteen thousand dollars during a fiscal year. (C) To qualify for a grant under this section, a grocery retailer shall meet both of the following requirements: (1) It sells or proposes to sell fresh fruit, vegetables, shelf-stable items, and other healthful foods to consumers. (2) It has established or proposes to establish a grocery store in a food desert. (D) The department shall develop an application process that applicants shall utilize to receive a grant under this section. The application shall include a requirement that documentation be included with the application to verify that the grocery retailer is or will be located in a food desert and has plans to sell fresh fruits, vegetables, shelf-stable items, and other healthful foods. (E) Any grocery retailer that receives a grant under this section shall provide quarterly reports to the department. The quarterly reports shall include the amount of state funds granted, the health impact of the program, and any other information that the department considers necessary for program evaluation and oversight.