Bill Text: GA HB367 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Georgia-grown farm products; promote production, purchase, and consumption

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 4-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-28 - House Second Readers [HB367 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HB367-Introduced.html

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11 LC 25 5830

House Bill 367

By: Representatives Pruett of the 144th, England of the 108th, McCall of the 30th, Benfield of the 85th, Ashe of the 56th, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To promote the production, purchase, and consumption of Georgia-grown farm products; to amend Chapter 2 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Agriculture, so as to provide for food procurement procedures and materials that encourage and facilitate the purchase of Georgia-grown food by state agencies and institutions; to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for the operation of school gardens and farms; to provide for a farm to school program to promote the sale of Georgia-grown farm products to county and independent school districts in this state; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 2 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Agriculture, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"2-2-8.2.

The department shall develop food procurement procedures and materials that encourage, facilitate, and maximize the purchase of Georgia-grown food by state agencies and institutions in accordance with Code Section 50-5-60."

SECTION 2.

Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, is amended in Article 3, relating to local boards of education, by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"20-2-66.1.

(a) Local school districts may operate school gardens or farms, as appropriate, for the purpose of growing fruits and vegetables to be used for educational purposes and, where appropriate, to be offered to students through the district nutrition services meal and snack programs. All such foods used in the district's meal and snack programs shall meet appropriate safety standards.

(b) If a school district operates a school garden or farm, students representing various student organizations, such as but not limited to vocational programs such as Future Farmers of America and 4-H, shall be given the opportunity to be involved in the operation of such school garden or farm. When school gardens or farms are used to educate students about agricultural practices, students shall be afforded the opportunity to learn about both organic and conventional growing methods."

SECTION 3.

Said chapter is further amended in Article 10, relating to contracts and purchases by public schools, by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"20-2-500.1.

There is established within the Department of Education a farm to school program. Such program shall facilitate and promote the sale of Georgia-grown farm products to county and independent school districts in this state. Through the farm to school program, the department shall:

(1) Encourage and solicit Georgia farmers to sell their products to such local school districts and other educational institutions;

(2) Develop and regularly update a data base of farmers interested in selling their products to Georgia schools, including the types and amounts of products the farmers want to sell and the time periods during which the farmers want to sell;

(3) In coordination with the Department of Agriculture, facilitate purchases from local farmers by such interested school districts;

(4) Provide outreach and guidance to farmers concerning the value of and procedure for selling their products to such interested school districts;

(5) Identify and promote critical components of individual farm to school programs and advise local school districts on needed actions and strategies to implement the farm to school program;

(6) Facilitate communication between farmers and such school districts;

(7) Provide leadership at the state level to encourage such school districts to develop and improve school nutrition plans using Georgia-grown farm fresh products;

(8) Conduct workshops and training sessions and provide technical assistance to school food services directors and personnel, farmers, and produce distributors and processors regarding the demand for and the availability of Georgia farm products;

(9) Seek opportunities to standardize the small purchase threshold for child nutrition programs to facilitate the purchase by local school districts of farm products from local farmers;

(10) Consult with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Community Health, and community groups as to the implementation of the farm to school program; and

(11) Seek grants from private donors and other funding sources for the farm to school program."

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.