Senate File 452 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE (SUCCESSOR TO SF 209) Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act providing for an Iowa farm=to=school program and providing 2 an appropriation. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2584SV 82 5 da/es/88 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 190A.1 DEFINITIONS. 1 2 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise 1 3 requires: 1 4 1. "Food" means an agricultural commodity or product, 1 5 whether raw or processed, including a commodity that is 1 6 produced and marketed in this state for human consumption. 1 7 2. "Program" means the Iowa farm=to=school program as 1 8 established in section 190A.2. 1 9 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 190A.2 ESTABLISHMENT AND 1 10 ADMINISTRATION. 1 11 An Iowa farm=to=school program is established to be 1 12 administered on a statewide basis by the department of 1 13 agriculture and land stewardship. 1 14 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 190A.3 PURPOSE. 1 15 The Iowa farm=to=school program shall provide for the 1 16 purchase of locally and regionally produced or processed food 1 17 in order to improve child nutrition and strengthen local and 1 18 regional farm economies. 1 19 1. The program shall link elementary and secondary public 1 20 and nonpublic schools in this state with Iowa farms in a 1 21 manner that provides schools with fresh and minimally 1 22 processed food for inclusion in school meals and snacks, 1 23 encourages children to develop healthy eating habits, and 1 24 improves the incomes of Iowa farmers who will enjoy direct 1 25 access to consumer markets. 1 26 2. The farm=to=school program may include activities that 1 27 provide students with hands=on learning opportunities, such as 1 28 farm visits, cooking demonstrations, and school gardening and 1 29 composting programs, and that integrate nutrition and 1 30 agricultural education into the school curricula. 1 31 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 190A.4 ADMINISTRATION. 1 32 The department shall employ a coordinator to administer the 1 33 program, including by doing all of the following: 1 34 1. Identifying and promoting the critical ways for local 1 35 communities to participate in the program and advise 2 1 communities on needed strategies, plans, and action to 2 2 administer the program. 2 3 2. Establishing a partnership with public agencies and 2 4 nonprofit organizations to implement a public engagement 2 5 campaign and establish a structure to facilitate communication 2 6 between farmers and schools. 2 7 3. Providing leadership at the state level to encourage 2 8 schools to develop and improve school nutrition plans using 2 9 locally or regionally grown or locally or regionally processed 2 10 food. 2 11 4. Conducting workshops and training sessions and 2 12 providing technical assistance to school food services, 2 13 farmers, processors, and distributors regarding the demand for 2 14 and the availability of Iowa food products, and assisting 2 15 persons seeking to participate in the program. 2 16 5. Providing information regarding the Iowa farm=to=school 2 17 program in an electronic format on the department's internet 2 18 website. Each department cooperating in administering the 2 19 program shall maintain a direct link to the information on 2 20 that department's internet website. 2 21 6. Seeking financial or in=kind contributions from persons 2 22 to support the program. 2 23 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 190A.5 DEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION. 2 24 The department of education, the department of human 2 25 services, and the department of public health shall cooperate 2 26 with the department of agriculture and land stewardship in 2 27 administering the Iowa farm=to=school program, including by 2 28 providing for professional consultation and staff support. 2 29 Sec. 6. APPROPRIATIONS. There is appropriated from the 2 30 general fund of the state to the department of agriculture and 2 31 land stewardship for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, 2 32 and ending June 30, 2008, the following amount, or so much 2 33 thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes 2 34 designated: 2 35 For purposes of supporting an Iowa farm=to=school program 3 1 as provided in this Act, including salaries, support, 3 2 maintenance, miscellaneous purposes, and for not more than the 3 3 following full=time equivalent positions: 3 4 .................................................. $ 99,747 3 5 ............................................... FTEs 2.00 3 6 EXPLANATION 3 7 This bill establishes an Iowa farm=to=school program 3 8 administered on a statewide basis by the department of 3 9 agriculture and land stewardship. The purpose of the program 3 10 is to provide for the purchase of locally and regionally 3 11 produced or processed food in order to improve child nutrition 3 12 in the public and nonpublic schools and strengthen local and 3 13 regional farm economies. The department is required to 3 14 appoint a coordinator in order to administer the program. The 3 15 bill requires that the department of education, department of 3 16 human services, and the department of public health cooperate 3 17 in administering the program. The bill makes an appropriation 3 18 from the state general fund to support the program. 3 19 LSB 2584SV 82 3 20 da:rj/es/88