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