House File 2459 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY MASCHER Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act providing for an annual report regarding the purchase of 2 locally and regionally produced or processed food by schools 3 under the farm=to=school program. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 6220HH 82 6 da/nh/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 190A.5 REPORT. 1 2 The farm=to=school council shall prepare a farm=to=school 1 3 report for submission to the governor and general assembly by 1 4 January 15 of each year. 1 5 1. The department of agriculture and land stewardship in 1 6 cooperation with the department of education shall assist the 1 7 council in preparing the report. 1 8 2. The report shall evaluate the success of the 1 9 farm=to=school program in achieving the program's purpose as 1 10 provided in section 190A.1 and grade how it has accomplished 1 11 the program's goals as provided in section 190A.3. The report 1 12 shall include at least all of the following: 1 13 a. The extent to which farmers and schools are 1 14 participating in the program on a regional basis. 1 15 b. The extent to which public agencies and nonprofit 1 16 organizations are partnering with the council to facilitate 1 17 communication between farmers and schools, and contributions 1 18 have been received to support the program. 1 19 c. The council's plans to improve and expand the program. 1 20 d. Any recommendations by the council to improve or expand 1 21 the program, including but not limited to legislative 1 22 proposals. 1 23 EXPLANATION 1 24 This bill amends Code chapter 190A as enacted in 2007 by 1 25 the general assembly (2007 Acts, ch. 215, sections 93=96) to 1 26 encourage and promote the purchase of locally and regionally 1 27 produced or processed food in order to improve child nutrition 1 28 and strengthen local and regional farm economies. The program 1 29 seeks to link elementary and secondary public and nonpublic 1 30 schools with Iowa farms to provide schools with fresh and 1 31 minimally processed food for inclusion in school meals and 1 32 snacks. 1 33 The bill requires that a farm=to=school council comprised 1 34 of representatives of interested agencies, organizations 1 35 dedicated to health and nutrition, and agricultural producers 2 1 prepare a report each year for submission to the governor and 2 2 the general assembly. The report must evaluate and grade the 2 3 success of the program, and include plans to improve or expand 2 4 the program, and recommendations to expand or improve the 2 5 program. 2 6 LSB 6220HH 82 2 7 da/nh/5