APPROVED CHAPTER
JULY 26, 2023 424
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
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IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE
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H.P. 55 - L.D. 87
An Act to Permit Emergency Funding for Food Banks When a State of
Emergency Is Declared
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1532, sub-§9 is enacted to read:
9. Emergency funding for nonprofit food banks. During a state of emergency
declared in accordance with Title 37-B, section 742, subsection 1 that exceeds 10 days, the
Governor, in accordance with rules adopted by the Commissioner of Agriculture,
Conservation and Forestry, may distribute up to $400,000 from the stabilization fund to
nonprofit entities, including food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens, that provide or
distribute food to low-income, indigent or unemployed individuals or households without
charge. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall adopt rules to
prescribe the manner in which the funds distributed under this subsection must be
disbursed. The commissioner may leverage funds distributed under this subsection to
match any relevant federal funding available for qualifying food programs in the State.
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as described in chapter
375, subchapter 2-A. The Governor may not suspend under Title 37-B, section 742,
subsection 1, paragraph C, subparagraph (1) rules adopted under this subsection.
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