[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6481 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6481

  To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to issue loan guarantees for 
purposes of financing improvements to school lunch facilities, training 
         school food service personnel, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 21, 2012

  Mr. Latham (for himself and Mr. McIntyre) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
   Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to issue loan guarantees for 
purposes of financing improvements to school lunch facilities, training 
         school food service personnel, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``School Food Modernization Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Durable equipment.--The term ``durable equipment'' 
        means durable food preparation, handling, cooking, and storage 
        equipment.
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a local educational agency (as defined in 
                section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801));
                    (B) a tribal organization (as defined in section 4 
                of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
                Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)); or
                    (C) a consortium that includes a local educational 
                agency referred to in subparagraph (A), a tribal 
                organization referred to in subparagraph (B), or both.
            (3) Infrastructure.--The term ``infrastructure'' means a 
        food storage facility, kitchen, food service facility, dining 
        room, or food preparation facility.
            (4) School food program.--The term ``school food programs'' 
        means--
                    (A) the school breakfast program established under 
                section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                1773); and
                    (B) the school lunch program established under the 
                Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
                1751 et seq.).
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.

SEC. 3. LOAN GUARANTEE FOR ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE 
              IMPROVEMENTS AND DURABLE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE 
              HEALTHY MEALS THROUGH SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAM.

    (a) Authority To Guarantee Loans.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
shall issue a loan guarantee to an eligible entity for purposes of 
financing the construction, remodeling, or expansion of infrastructure 
or the purchase of durable equipment that the Secretary determines will 
assist such entity in providing healthy meals through the school food 
programs.
    (b) Competitive Basis.--Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary 
shall select eligible entities to receive a loan guarantee under this 
section on a competitive basis.
    (c) Preferences.--In issuing a loan guarantee under this section, 
the Secretary shall give a preference to an eligible entity that the 
Secretary determines demonstrates substantial or disproportionate (as 
compared with another eligible entity seeking a loan guarantee under 
this section)--
            (1) infrastructure improvement need; or
            (2) durable equipment need or impairment.
    (d) Oversight.--The Secretary shall establish procedures to enable 
the Secretary to oversee the construction, remodeling, or expansion of 
infrastructure or the purchase of durable equipment for which a loan 
guarantee is issued under this section.
    (e) Guarantee Amount.--A loan guarantee issued under this section 
may not guarantee more than 90 percent of the principal amount of the 
loan.
    (f) Use of Commodity Credit Corporation.--The Secretary shall use 
the funds, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation to carry out this section.

SEC. 4. TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE 
              PERSONNEL.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a grant program 
under which the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, 
to provide support to eligible third-party training institutions 
described in subsection (b) to develop and administer training and 
technical assistance for school foodservice personnel to meet updated 
nutrition standards under section 4(b)(3) of the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(3)) for the school food 
programs.
    (b) Criteria for Eligible Third-Party Institutions.--The Secretary 
shall establish specific criteria that eligible third-party training 
institutions shall meet to receive grants under this section, which 
shall include--
            (1) a demonstrated capacity to administer effective 
        training and technical assistance programming to school 
        foodservice personnel;
            (2) prior, successful experience in providing or engaging 
        in training and technical assistance programming or applied 
        research activities involving eligible entities, school food 
        service administrators, or directors;
            (3) prior, successful experience in developing relevant 
        educational training tools or course materials or curricula on 
        topics addressing child and school nutrition or the updated 
        nutrition standards under section 4(b)(3) of the Richard B. 
        Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(3)); and
            (4) the ability to deliver effective and cost-efficient 
        training and technical assistance programming to school 
        foodservice personnel at training sites that are located within 
        a proximate geographic distance to schools, central kitchens, 
        or other worksites.
    (c) Program Assistance.--The Secretary shall assist the 
institutions receiving grants under this section in publicizing and 
disseminating training and other project materials and online tools 
wherever possible.
    (d) Federal Share.--
            (1) In general.--The Federal share of costs for training 
        and technical assistance funded through a grant awarded under 
        this section shall not exceed 90 percent of the total cost of 
        such training and technical assistance.
            (2) Matching.--As a condition of receiving a grant under 
        this section, the eligible third-party training institution 
        shall provide matching support in the form of cash or in-kind 
        contributions.
    (e) Oversight.--The Secretary shall establish procedures to enable 
the Secretary to--
            (1) oversee the operation training and technical assistance 
        funded through grants awarded under this section; and
            (2) ensure that such training and assistance is operated 
        consistent with the goals and requirements of this Act.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
2014, and such sums as necessary are authorized for each fiscal year 
thereafter.

SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than one year after funds are made available to carry out 
this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report on the Secretary's progress in implementing the 
provisions of this Act.
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