Bill Text: VA HB2445 | 2023 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Wholesome food donation; tax credit renewed.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-03-22 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0165) [HB2445 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2023-HB2445-Comm_Sub.html

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23106737D
HOUSE BILL NO. 2445 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations on February 14, 2023) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Bennett-Parker) A BILL to amend and reenact §§3.2-4780, 3.2-4782, and 3.2-4783 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§3.2-4780, 3.2-4782, and 3.2-4783 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§3.2-4780. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Charitable food assistance organization" means an organization operating in Virginia that provides nutrition assistance to relieve situations of emergency and distress through the provision of food to needy persons in Virginia.

"Fund" means the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Fund.

"VAFA Program" means the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program.

"Wholesome food" means food that meets all quality standards imposed by federal, state, and local laws or regulations that is readily marketable.

§3.2-4782. Authority of Commissioner.

A. The Commissioner shall establish the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program (VAFA Program) for Virginia farmers and food producers to donate, sell, or otherwise provide agriculture products to charitable food assistance organizations.

B. The Commissioner may contract with charitable food assistance organizations operating in Virginia or regional charitable food assistance organizations to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

C. The Commissioner shall provide grants from the Fund to charitable food assistance organizations to reimburse farmers or food producers for any costs associated with harvesting, processing, packaging, or transporting agriculture products or wholesome foods donated, sold, or otherwise provided to such charitable food assistance organizations.

D. The Commissioner may develop guidelines and adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Such regulations shall prohibit any charitable food assistance organization that contracts with or receives a grant from the Commissioner from attributing more than 10 percent of the total grant or contract amount to administrative costs.

§3.2-4783. Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program.

The VAFA Program shall:

1. Provide grants from the Fund to charitable food assistance organizations to reimburse farmers or food producers for any costs associated with harvesting, processing, packaging, or transporting agriculture products or wholesome foods donated to such charitable food assistance organizations; and

2. Distribute agriculture products to needy persons in Virginia in accordance with the food distribution guidelines for each charitable food assistance organization.