Bill > S63

This bill establishes a comprehensive Food Justice Frontline Program in Massachusetts aimed at addressing food insecurity and creating job opportunities in disadvantaged communities. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources will create a grant program providing up to $500,000 to nonprofit food security organizations that create jobs in "Overburdened Communities" - defined as areas with high environmental stress and low median household income. These jobs must involve food production, distribution, preparation, or delivery, and must pay a wage calculated as a proportion of the statewide per capita income. Additionally, the bill mandates a separate public awareness program run by the Department of Transitional Assistance and Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development to promote food assistance programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). This awareness program will involve recruiting Massachusetts residents under 18 to help spread information about food access programs, with a focus on multilingual outreach and prioritizing residents from low-income and environmentally stressed communities. The goal is to rapidly create employment opportunities and increase access to food resources for low-income Massachusetts residents, with an emphasis on quick implementation and targeting communities most in need.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S63