Amendment ID: S3029-20-R1

Redraft Amendment 20

Updating Agricultural Procurement and Marketing Initiatives

Messrs. Mark and Eldridge move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after section 1 the following section:-

“SECTION 1A.  Chapter 23A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10A the following section:-

Section 10A1/2.  (a) The MOBD shall establish a Massachusetts food tourism task force to identify, evaluate, make recommendations and implement such recommendations regarding the challenges and benefits of marketing, promoting and selling consumer food, farm and agricultural goods produced in the commonwealth.

(b) The task force shall consist of the director of MOBD or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of the executive office of economic development or a designee; the director of the office of real estate and economic development of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation or a designee; the chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Port Authority or a designee; the chair of the board of higher education at the department of higher education or a designee; the commissioner of the department of agricultural resources or a designee; and the executive director of the office of travel and tourism or a designee.

(c) The task force shall: (i) identify and assess state-operated and state-owned locations suitable for marketing, promoting or selling consumer food, farm and agriculture goods produced in the commonwealth; (ii) provide information to businesses that produce consumer food, farm and agricultural goods in the commonwealth about state-operated and state-owned locations where these businesses may sell their goods; (iii) develop and maintain a public list of businesses or vendors of consumer food, farm and agriculture goods produced in the commonwealth; and (iv) develop and implement a brand to identify consumer food, farm and agriculture goods produced in the commonwealth for purposes of promoting and marketing said goods.

 (d) The MOBD may expend such funds as may be appropriated therefor, and may accept federal funds or private gifts and grants to assist it in carrying out the purposes of this section.

(e) Annually, not later than November 1, the task force shall report to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development on the activities of the task force, including, but not limited to: (i) any challenges identified to the marketing, promotion and selling of consumer food, farm and agricultural products produced in the commonwealth; (ii) actions taken or recommended to address such challenges; (iii) an assessment of the effectiveness of connecting businesses that produce consumer food, farm and agricultural goods with state-operated and state-owned locations where such businesses can sell such goods; and (iv) any other factors as determined by the MOBD.

(f) The MOBD shall promulgate regulations to implement this section.”; and

by inserting after section 16 the following section:-

“SECTION 16A. Not later than 120 days following the effective date of this act, the Massachusetts department of business development shall promulgate regulations to implement section 10A1/2 of chapter 23A of the General Laws.”.