[§141-12.5]  Grant program; food safety certification costs; special fund.  (a)  There is established in the department of agriculture a grant program to assist farmers and ranchers in meeting the costs, including audit costs and other expenses, of complying with the federal Food Safety Modernization Act, United States Food and Drug Administration regulations, and state food safety laws.

     (b)  The program shall provide grants to qualified applicants with the following terms and conditions:

     (1)  No grants shall be given unless money has been spent by the applicant toward complying with the federal Food Safety Modernization Act, United States Food and Drug Administration regulations, or state food safety laws;

     (2)  The total amount of a grant to any one applicant shall not exceed $5,000; and

     (3)  No grant shall be given for costs that were incurred more than five years prior to the time the application for the grant is received by the department.

     (c)  There is established in the state treasury the food safety certification costs grant program special fund to be administered by the department to provide the grants required by this section.  The revenues of the fund shall consist of legislative appropriations and the interest thereon.

     (d)  The department shall adopt rules to carry out the purposes of the grant program.  The grant applications shall be reviewed and approved by an administrative staff member of the department. [L 2017, c 183, §1]