Amendment #23 to S2509

Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture Program

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Hill of Ipswich, Poirier of North Attleborough, Gifford of Wareham, Frost of Auburn and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

Section X.   (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Massachusetts Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture Program Fund, in this section referred to as the fund. The fund shall be administered by the department of agricultural resources. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be credited to the fund any revenue from appropriations or other monies authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund, and any gifts, grants, private contributions, or investment income earned on the fund’s assets and all other sources. Monies deposited in the fund that are unexpended at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure in the subsequent year and shall not be subject to section 5C of chapter 29.

(b) The public purpose of the fund shall be to enhance the education, training, employment, income, productivity and retention of veterans currently working or aspiring to work in the field of agriculture in the commonwealth. The department of agricultural resources, in consultation with the department of veteran services, shall establish, develop, and implement the Massachusetts Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture Program in furtherance of this purpose. Amounts credited to the fund shall be used, without further appropriation, for the costs associated with administering and implementing the program and may also be used to provide grants or loans on a competitive basis to public, private, and charitable entities to finance projects in furtherance of this public purpose. Expenditures from the fund for such purpose shall complement and not replace existing local, state, private or federal funding for related training and educational programs.