20 V.S.A. § 52: Ready Response Grant Program

(a) As used in this section, “ready response” means the provision of short-term food and bottled water resources, including logistical support and transportation, to individuals in Vermont who do not have adequate access to food and water at agreed upon times when the Division of Emergency Management seeks resource assistance from a grantee or responds to an all-hazards event or state of emergency.

(b) There is created the Ready Response Grant Program to be managed and administered by the Division of Emergency Management. The Division shall award an annual grant to an eligible food bank to source, store, and distribute shelf-stable, ready-to-eat foods and bottled water at times and in types and quantities per a written memorandum of agreement with the Division.

(c) The grant shall be in an amount sufficient to compensate the grantee for all costs incurred to procure and stage food and water in agreed upon quantities and locations, the costs of cycling the food and water at agreed-upon intervals, the value of distribution center storage capacity, the value of operational capacity to stage materials in anticipation of need, and the costs of distribution whenever the Division seeks resource assistance from the grantee or responds to an all-hazards event or state of emergency. As used in this subsection, the “value of operational capacity” includes leased storage space, delivery vehicles, drivers, warehouse selectors, and other operational costs.

(d) Food and water supplies subject to a grant and under the grantee’s control shall be rotated and replenished according to established industry guidelines and best practices. Rotated food and water shall be redistributed in an equitable manner by the grantee through Vermont’s charitable food system to Vermont nonprofit organizations qualifying under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) that provide food to individuals in Vermont.

(e) To the extent that the Division requests services from the grantee that are not covered by the Grant Program, a separate agreement shall be reached between the Division and the grantee.