30:1A-9 Grants to emergency food programs.

3. a. Within the limits of funds appropriated for the program and such other funds as are made available to the program, the program shall provide grants to emergency food programs in the State to carry out the goals of the program.

An emergency food program shall submit an application for grant funds to the Department of Human Services in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Human Services. The commissioner, in consultation with the Hunger Prevention Advisory Committee established pursuant to section 4 of this act, shall award grants to emergency food programs that:

(1) address an unmet need for emergency food services;

(2) offer services that meet the goals of the program, particularly with respect to providing nutrition education services to persons in the service area of the emergency food program;

(3) provide for referral or outreach services to other public and private social services programs that serve the emergency food program's target population;

(4) demonstrate culturally competent services, including recognizing food preferences and traditions of the community, that are appropriate to the target population of the emergency food program; and

(5) demonstrate an ability to document how the grant funds are used and to meet the reporting requirements of the program.

b. In addition to considering the criteria for awarding grants provided in subsection a. of this section, upon completion of the needs assessment conducted pursuant to section 5 of this act, the commissioner and advisory committee shall take into consideration the findings of the needs assessment in determining how grant funds shall be allocated in the State.

c. Grant recipients shall report quarterly to the Department of Human Services on the use of the grant funds, including the number of persons served by the emergency food program, the type of services received and such other information as required by the commissioner.

L.2001,c.62,s.3.