
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC7505]

 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
                 CHAPTER 102--EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE
 
Sec. 7505. Federal and State responsibilities


(a) Federal responsibility; optional State priority

    The Secretary shall, as expeditiously as possible, provide the 
commodities made available under this chapter in such quantities as can 
be used without waste to State agencies designated by the Governor or 
other appropriate State official for distribution to eligible recipient 
agencies, except that the Secretary may provide such commodities 
directly to eligible recipient agencies and to private companies that 
process such commodities for eligible recipient agencies under sections 
\1\ 7504 of this title. Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
chapter, in the distribution of commodities under this chapter, each 
State agency shall have the option to give priority to existing food 
bank networks and other organizations whose ongoing primary function is 
to facilitate the distribution of food to low-income households, 
including food from sources other than the Department of Agriculture.
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    \1\ So in original. Probably should be ``section''.
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(b) Distribution by State agencies; priority; rural areas

    State agencies receiving commodities under this chapter shall, as 
expeditiously as possible, distribute such commodities, in the 
quantities requested (to the extent practicable), to eligible recipient 
agencies within their respective States. However, if a State agency 
cannot meet all requests for a particular commodity under this chapter, 
the State agency shall give priority in the distribution of such 
commodity to eligible recipient agencies providing nutrition assistance 
to relieve situations of emergency and distress through the provision of 
food to needy persons, including low-income and unemployed persons. Each 
State agency shall encourage distribution of such commodities in rural 
areas.

(c) Distribution to needy persons

    Each State agency receiving commodities for individual household use 
under this chapter shall distribute such commodities to eligible 
recipient agencies in the State that serve needy persons, and shall, 
with the approval of the Secretary, determine those persons in the State 
that shall qualify as needy persons eligible for such commodities.

(d) Cooperative agreements with adjoining States

    Each State agency receiving commodities under this chapter may--
        (1) enter into cooperative agreements with State agencies of 
    other States for joint provision of such commodities to an emergency 
    feeding organization that serves needy persons in a single 
    geographical area part of which is situated in each of such States; 
    or
        (2) transfer such commodities to any such emergency feeding 
    organization in the other State under such agreement.

(Pub. L. 98-8, title II, Sec. 203B, as added Pub. L. 98-92, Sec. 2(5), 
Sept. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 610; amended Pub. L. 99-198, title XV, 
Sec. 1568, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1592; Pub. L. 100-435, title I, 
Sec. 105(c), Sept. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 1651; Pub. L. 104-193, title 
VIII, Sec. 871(e)(1), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2345.)


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104-193 substituted ``203A'', which was 
translated as ``section 7504 of this title'', for ``203 and 203A of this 
Act''.
    1988--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100-435 inserted at end ``Notwithstanding 
any other provision of this chapter, in the distribution of commodities 
under this chapter, each State agency shall have the option to give 
priority to existing food bank networks and other organizations whose 
ongoing primary function is to facilitate the distribution of food to 
low-income households, including food from sources other than the 
Department of Agriculture.''
    1985--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99-198, Sec. 1568(a), inserted at end 
``Each State agency shall encourage distribution of such commodities in 
rural areas.''
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99-198, Sec. 1568(b), added subsec. (d).


                    Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 100-435 to be effective and implemented on Oct. 
1, 1988, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 100-435, set out as a note under 
section 2012 of this title.


                             Effective Date

    Section 2 of Pub. L. 98-92 provided in part that this section is 
effective Oct. 1, 1983.
