SPONSOR: Trent
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to ensure the inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers, as defined in the bill, in the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of food and agriculture laws, regulations, policies, and programs. These requirements also apply to socially disadvantaged farmers in urbanized areas, as defined in the bill.
Duties of the department will include:
(1) Consulting with the Director of the Department of Natural Resources, the Chair of the Missouri Housing Development Commission, the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, and other interested parties of the public and private sector of the state on opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers to coordinate state programs;
(2) Disseminating information regarding opportunities provided by:
a. The United States Department of Agriculture; b. The United States Environmental Protection Agency; c. The federal Government Accountability Office; d. The federal Office of Management and Budget; and e. Other federal agencies that have programs that may assist socially disadvantaged farmers; and
(3) Evaluating opportunities for the inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers in boards, committees, commissions, and other similar positions created by the department.
On or before January 1, 2021, the department must submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on efforts to serve socially disadvantaged farmers in this state. The report must include recommendations on how to improve processes to include socially disadvantaged farmers.
The department must make available information about resources, potential funding, and procedures to establish a community garden. The information shall be published on its website and in a number of brochures it deems appropriate to distribute to local governments. At a minimum, the information shall instruct individuals, entities, and local governments how to acquire abandoned land for a community garden; apply to grants supporting community gardens; suggest procedures to manage membership and ownership of plots; and transfer ownership of the land to local government if it is unused.
Statutes affected: