Sec. 418.026. GRANTS FOR DISASTER RESPONSE BY NONPROFIT FOOD BANKS. (a) In this section, "nonprofit food bank" means a nonprofit organization that solicits, warehouses, and redistributes edible food to agencies that feed needy families and individuals.

(b) Using money available for the purpose, the office of the governor shall establish a program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations in this state for distribution to nonprofit food banks to build the capacity of the nonprofit food banks to respond to disasters.

(c) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a nonprofit organization must:

(1) have at least five years of experience coordinating a statewide network of nonprofit food banks and charitable organizations that distribute food to needy or low income individuals during disasters; and

(2) be a member of the Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

(d) Grant money awarded under this section may be used only to reimburse a nonprofit food bank for all or part of the costs incurred by the nonprofit food bank as a result of:

(1) maintaining an inventory of emergency food boxes in preparation for a disaster;

(2) purchasing, storing, and transporting food for distribution during a disaster; and

(3) purchasing capital equipment necessary to operate during a disaster, including back-up generators, mobile food pantries, trucks, meal preparation units, forklifts, technology, and other equipment.

(e) The office of the governor shall establish procedures to administer the grant program, including a procedure for the submission of a proposal and a procedure to be used by the office to evaluate a proposal.

(f) The office of the governor shall enter into a contract that includes performance requirements with each grant recipient. The office shall monitor and enforce the terms of the contract. The contract must authorize the office to recoup grant money from a grant recipient for failure of the grant recipient to comply with the terms of the contract.

(g) The office of the governor may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source for the purpose of awarding grants under this section.

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1299 (H.B. 3668), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.