SENATE FILE 441

BY  COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1179)

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for a local food and farm program initiative and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

DIVISION I

LOCAL FOOD AND FARM INITIATIVE
   Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  267A.1  Purpose and goals.
   1.  The purpose of this chapter is to empower farmers and food entrepreneurs to provide for strong local food economies that promote self-sufficiency and job growth in the agricultural sector and allied sectors of the economy. 
   2.  The goals of this chapter are to accomplish all of the following:
   a.  Promote the expansion of the production of local foods, including all of the following:
   (1)  The production of Iowa-grown food, including but not limited to livestock, eggs, milk, fruit, vegetables, grains, herbs, honey, and nuts.
   (2)  The processing of Iowa-grown agricultural products into food products, including canning, freezing, dehydrating, bottling, or otherwise packaging and preserving such products.
   (3)  The distribution and marketing of fresh and processed Iowa-grown agricultural food products to markets in this state and neighboring states.
   b.  Increase consumer and institutional spending on Iowa-produced and marketed foods.
   c.  Increase the profitability of farmers and businesses engaged in enterprises related to producing, processing, distributing, and marketing local food.
   d.  Increase the number of jobs in this state’s farm and business economies associated with producing, processing, distributing, and marketing local food.
   Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  267A.2  Definitions.
   As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
   1.  “Coordinator” means the local food and farm program coordinator created in section 267A.4.
   2.  “Council” means the local food and farm program council established in section 267A.3.
   3.  “Department” means the department of agriculture and land stewardship.
   4.  “Fund” means the local food and farm program fund created in section 267A.5.
   5.  “State agency” means the same as defined in section 8A.101.
   Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  267A.3  Local food and farm program council.
   1.  A local food and farm program council is established to advise the local food and farm program coordinator carrying out the purpose and goals of this chapter as provided in section 267A.1.
   2.  The council shall be composed of members appointed as follows:
   a.  Members appointed at the discretion of and by the following organizations to represent the private sector:
   (1)  One person by the Iowa farm bureau federation who is engaged in local food production.
   (2)  One person by the practical farmers of Iowa who is involved in local food production.
   (3)  One person by the Iowa farmers union who is involved in local food production. 
   (4)  One person by the Iowa food policy council.
   (5)  One person by the Iowa grocery industry association who is involved in local food marketing.
   (6)  One person by the Iowa meat processors association.
   (7)  One person by the Iowa fruit and vegetable growers association.
   (8)  One person by the Iowa farmers market association.
   (9)  One person by the Iowa bankers association.
   b.  Members appointed by the governor to represent the private sector which include all of the following:
   (1)  One person actively engaged in the distribution of local food to processors, wholesalers, or retailers.
   (2)  Two persons from two regional food systems working groups.
   c.  Members appointed by the titular heads of state agencies to represent their respective state agencies or institutions as follows: 
   (1)  The department of agriculture and land stewardship.
   (2)  The department of economic development.
   (3)  The department of administrative services.
   (4)  The department of human services. The appointed person shall have a special knowledge of refugee services.
   (5)  The department of inspections and appeals.
   (6)  The department of education.
   (7)  The department of public health.
   (8)  The department of workforce development.
   (9)  The department of cultural affairs.
   (10)  The Leopold center for sustainable agriculture. 
   (11)  Iowa state university extension service. 
   (12)  Iowa state university of science and technology.
   (13)  The university of Iowa.
   (14)  The university of northern Iowa.
   3.  A member appointed under this section to serve on the council shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing organization, official, state agency, or institution.
   4.  The department, acting either directly or indirectly under contract with a state board of regents institution, shall perform administrative functions necessary for the management of the council.
   5.  The council shall elect a chairperson from among its members each year on a rotating basis as provided by the council. The council shall meet on a regular basis and at the call of the chairperson or upon the written request to the chairperson of a majority of the members.
   6.  The members of the council shall not receive compensation for their services including as provided in section 7E.6. However, the members may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the council if allowed by the council. 
   7.  A majority of the members constitutes a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present is necessary for any substantive action to be taken by the council. The majority shall not include any member who has a conflict of interest and a statement by a member that the member has a conflict of interest is conclusive for this purpose. A vacancy in the membership does not impair the duties of the council.
   Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  267A.4  Local food and farm program coordinator.
   The position of local food and farm program coordinator is created within the department. The coordinator shall be the primary state official charged with carrying out the purpose and goals of this chapter. The coordinator shall be stationed by the department at a state board of regents institution under a cost-sharing agreement with the institution.
   Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  267A.5  Local food and farm program fund.
   A local food and farm program fund is created in the state treasury under the control of the department. The fund is separate from the general fund of the state. The fund is composed of moneys appropriated by the general assembly and moneys available to and obtained or accepted by the local food and farm program from the United States government or private sources for placement in the fund. Moneys in the fund shall be used to carry out the purpose and goals of this chapter as provided in section 267A.1, including but not limited to administering the local food and farm program as provided in section 267A.6. The fund shall be managed by the local food and farm program coordinator under the supervision of the local food and farm program council.
   Sec. 6.  NEW SECTION.  267A.6  Local food and farm program.
   1.  The local food and farm program coordinator, with advice from the local food and farm program council, shall develop and administer a local food and farm program necessary to carry out the purpose and goals of this chapter. 
   2.  The purpose of the program is to do any of the following:
   a.  Improve communication and cooperation between and among farmers, food entrepreneurs, and consumers.
   b.  Improve coordination between and among government agencies, public universities and community colleges, organizations, and private-sector firms working on local food and farm-related issues.
   c.  Assist in educational needs assessment and curriculum development and delivery regarding local food and farm-related services.
   Sec. 7.  NEW SECTION.  267A.7  Local food and farm program report.
   1.  The local food and farm program coordinator shall prepare an annual report dated June 30, which shall evaluate the state’s progress in accomplishing the purpose and goals of this chapter.
   2.  The report shall include a summary of all the following:
   a.  Benchmarks and goals of the program.
   b.  Actions taken by the local food and farm program council.
   c.  Activities and accomplishments of the local food and farm program coordinator.
   d.  Recommendations for proposed legislation to be considered by the general assembly and the governor.
   e.  The amount and source of moneys appropriated or credited to, or deposited into the local food and farm program fund, and the amount and purposes of expenditures from the fund.
   3.  The annual report shall be delivered to the governor and general assembly not later than October 1.
   Sec. 8.  CONSIDERATION OF IOWA LOCAL FOOD AND FARM PLAN.  In developing the local food and farm program as provided in this Act, the local food and farm program coordinator shall consider the implementation of feasible recommendations contained in the Iowa local farm and food plan published by the Leopold center for sustainable agriculture in January 2011. The coordinator shall provide the plan to the division of libraries and information services of the department of education for publication as provided in section 256.53.

DIVISION II

APPROPRIATIONS
   Sec. 9.  APPROPRIATION —— DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP —— LOCAL FOOD AND FARM PROGRAM COORDINATOR.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of agriculture and land stewardship for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2013, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   1.  For purposes of supporting a local food and farm program coordinator as provided in this Act, for salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes, and for not more than the following full-time equivalent positions:
.................................................. $    150,000
............................................... FTEs       1.00
   2.  The department shall enter into a cost-sharing agreement with a state board of regents institution to support the coordinator. The coordinator shall be stationed at that state board of regents institution as provided in this Act.
   Sec. 10.  APPROPRIATION —— DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP —— IOWA FARM-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAM.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of agriculture and land stewardship for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2013, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   For purposes of supporting the farm-to-school program as established in chapter 190A:
.................................................. $    100,000
EXPLANATION
   LOCAL FOOD AND FARM INITIATIVE. This bill provides for an initiative related to the production, processing, and marketing of local foods. The initiative is administered by a local food and farm program council comprised of members representing both the private and public sectors and a local food and farm program coordinator established within the department of agriculture and land stewardship but stationed in a state board of regents institution under a cost-sharing agreement with the institution. 
   The bill establishes a local food and farm program fund under the control of the department and managed by the coordinator under the supervision of the council. The bill establishes a local food and farm program administered by the coordinator with advice from the council. The purpose of the program is to improve communication and cooperation between interested persons, improve coordination between and among government entities and private-sector firms, and assist in providing education. In developing the program, the coordinator must consider the implementation of feasible recommendations contained in the Iowa local food and farm plan published by the Leopold center for sustainable agriculture. 
   The bill requires the coordinator to prepare an annual report to the general assembly and the governor detailing the work of the council and coordinator and including recommendations. 
   APPROPRIATIONS. The bill appropriates moneys from the general fund of the state to the department of agriculture and land stewardship for fiscal years beginning July 1, 2011, and July 1, 2012, for purposes of supporting the local food and farm program coordinator to be stationed at a state regents institution. The bill also appropriates moneys to the department of agriculture and land stewardship for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2013, for purposes of supporting the farm-to-school program as established in Code chapter 190A.