(a) This chapter shall be known, and may be cited as, the Local, Equitable Access to Food (LEAF) Program. (b) Upon an appropriation by the Legislature for these purposes, the Department of Food and Agriculture, with support from the State Department of Social Services, shall establish a grant program designed to expand the use of EBT acceptance systems at California certified farmersâ markets or tribe-operated farmerâs markets on Indian reservations. (c) The grant program described in subdivision (b) shall include both of the following: (1) Grants to certified farmersâ market operators or farmersâ markets operated by tribal governments on Indian reservations to expand the use of EBT acceptance systems at farmersâ markets. (A) A certified farmersâ market shall only be eligible for a grant pursuant to this paragraph if the certified farmersâ market operator is a local government, a certified producer, or a nonprofit organization. (B) A certified farmersâ market may use grant funds received pursuant to this paragraph for any activities relating to expanding the use of EBT acceptance systems at farmersâ markets, which may include, but is not limited to, any of the following: (i) Scaling and improving EBT processes at existing certified farmersâ markets. (ii) Establishing new certified farmersâ markets that accept payment via EBT cards, primarily in underserved communities, including, but not limited to, those in food deserts or with high CalFresh participation. (iii) Operational services, which may include, but is not limited to, the hiring of individuals to operate the EBT acceptance systems and programs that expand the purchasing power of customers using CalFresh benefits at farmersâ markets. A certified farmersâ market may use grant funds to contract with a third party to operate an EBT acceptance system only if the third party is a nonprofit organization that is incorporated in California. (iv) Technical assistance, which may include, but is not limited to, employing a third party nonprofit organization to provide any back-end assistance required to help make a certified farmersâ market a successful and effective EBT retailer. (v) Educational and outreach activities promoting the ability to use EBT cards at certified farmersâ markets. (C) If a certified farmersâ market uses grant funds to hire an individual, or to contract with a third party, to operate an EBT acceptance system, all of the following shall apply: (i) The person operating the EBT acceptance system shall be available at all times the certified farmersâ market is open to the public. (ii) Vendors at the farmersâ market shall not be charged a fee for the operation of an EBT acceptance system. (iii) Vendors shall be reimbursed in full for purchases made using an EBT acceptance system at least once per month. (iv) The person operating the EBT acceptance system shall be located in a central and highly visible area of the farmersâ market. (v) The person operating the EBT acceptance system shall provide a monthly report to the department with the number of EBT transactions, the amount of CalFresh benefits distributed, and the amount of CalFresh benefits redeemed for each day that the farmersâ market operates. (D) A certified farmersâ market that receives a grant pursuant to this paragraph shall annually submit a report to the department documenting the use of grant funds and demonstrating that grant funds were used to expand the use of EBT acceptance systems at the farmersâ market. (2) Grants to nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance to certified farmersâ markets on the implementation of high-quality EBT acceptance systems. (A) A nonprofit organization shall only be eligible for a grant pursuant to this paragraph if it is incorporated in California. (B) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall issue a request for proposals and shall award a grant to one nonprofit organization for each region. The departme
‹ Prev All California sections Next ›
Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.