AN ACT CONCERNING FARMERS' MARKET VOUCHERS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 22-6q of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2015):

(a) There is established the Connecticut Farmers' Market/Senior Nutrition Program which shall be provided for from funds available to the commissioner and from other sources as such funds may become available. The program shall supply Connecticut-grown fresh produce to senior participants through the distribution of vouchers that are redeemable only at designated Connecticut farmers' markets. The dollar value of any such voucher shall be established by the Commissioner of Agriculture, provided such value shall not be less than twenty-one dollars. For purposes of this section, a "senior participant" is defined as a person who is sixty years of age or older and is currently residing in elderly housing, or is a participant of a registered congregate meal site, or has been identified by a municipal elderly agent as being at nutritional risk. The program is designed to provide both a supplemental source of fresh produce for the dietary needs of seniors who are judged to be at nutritional risk and to stimulate an increased demand for Connecticut-grown produce at Connecticut farmers' markets.

(b) The program shall be administered by the Commissioner of Agriculture who shall maintain all conditions for its operations.

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:

The title was changed.