1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to agriculture; appropriating money for grants to grocery stores and other 
1.3 	retail food handlers for COVID-19 safety measures.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; RETAIL FOOD HANDLER SAFETY.
 1.6 	(a) $750,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
1.7 	of agriculture for grants to retail food handlers, as described in Minnesota Statutes, section 
1.8 	28A.05, paragraph (a). The commissioner may award grants for recipients to implement 
1.9 	requirements, guidance, and recommendations related to the infectious disease known as 
1.10 	COVID-19 provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department 
1.11 	of Health and to develop safety procedures, update and retrofit retail locations, purchase 
1.12 	personal protective equipment for employees, and educate the public on the need to follow 
1.13 	safety procedures. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2021.
1.14 	(b) Grants under this section equal $500 for stores that qualify as retail food handlers 
1.15 	with 20 employees or less and $1,000 for stores that qualify as retail food handlers with 
1.16 	more than 20 employees. The commissioner must not award more than $2,000 in total grants 
1.17 	to a business with multiple eligible locations. Applicants must provide information to the 
1.18 	commissioner on how grant money will be used to ensure the safety of Minnesotans from 
1.19 	COVID-19.

1.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.