Bill Text: IL HB0078 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Creates the Farm Fresh Schools Program Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Health, shall create the Farm Fresh Schools Program. Provides that the intent of the Program is to reduce obesity and improve nutrition and public health, as well as strengthen local agricultural economies by increasing access to and promoting the consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables in schools and increasing physical activities and programs that promote pupil wellness. Provides that the Department of Agriculture and the State Board of Education shall jointly administer a process to review grant proposals and award grants on a competitive basis to eligible applicants to implement the Program. Creates the Farm Fresh Schools Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2009-08-07 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 96-0153 [HB0078 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HB0078-Introduced.html

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96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2009 and 2010 HB0078 Introduced 1/14/2009, by Rep. Sandy Cole SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.719 new
Creates the Farm Fresh Schools Program Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Health, shall create the Farm Fresh Schools Program. Provides that the intent of the Program is to reduce obesity and improve nutrition and public health, as well as strengthen local agricultural economies by increasing access to and promoting the consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables in schools and increasing physical activities and programs that promote pupil wellness. Provides that the Department of Agriculture and the State Board of Education shall jointly administer a process to review grant proposals and award grants on a competitive basis to eligible applicants to implement the Program. Creates the Farm Fresh Schools Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning public health.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Farm
Fresh Schools Program Act.
Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds all of the
following:
(1) According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, less than 20% of young people eat the
recommended 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables
each day. A recent study in the New England Journal of
Medicine finds that, unless reversed, in the next 50 years
obesity will shorten life expectancy in the United States
by 2 to 5 years, exceeding the impact of cancer or heart
disease. Studies by the Yale University School of Public
Health have found that, due to obesity and related
diseases, the current generation of young people may be the
first in American history whose life expectancy is
projected to be less than that of their parents.
(2) Farm-to-school programs link schools with local
and regional farms in order to provide schools with fresh
and minimally processed farm commodities for inclusion in
school meals, vending machines, salad bars, and snacks.

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These programs also help children develop nutritional
awareness and healthy eating habits.
(3) In addition to procuring farm fresh foods for
school food offerings, farm-to-school programs often
include activities that provide pupils with hands-on
learning opportunities, such as farm visits, cooking
demonstrations, and school gardening and composting
programs, and integrate nutritional and agricultural
education into school curricula.
(4) It is in the interest of this State to promote
farm-to-school programs that emphasize the purchase of
farm fresh foods by schools in order to improve child
nutrition and strengthen local and regional farm
economies.
Section 10. Farm Fresh Schools Program. The Department of
Agriculture, in cooperation with the State Board of Education
and the Department of Public Health, shall create the Farm
Fresh Schools Program. The intent of the Program is to reduce
obesity and improve nutrition and public health, as well as
strengthen local agricultural economies by increasing access
to and promoting the consumption of locally grown fruits and
vegetables in schools and increasing physical activities and
programs that promote pupil wellness.
Section 15. Grants.

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(a) The Department of Agriculture and the State Board of
Education shall jointly administer a process to review grant
proposals and award grants on a competitive basis to eligible
applicants to implement the Farm Fresh Schools Program.
(b) The first 6 grants awarded pursuant to the Farm Fresh
Schools Program shall be awarded in 6 different counties,
including 3 urban counties and 3 rural counties with a
significant agricultural economy.
Section 20. Farm Fresh Schools Program Fund. The Farm Fresh
Schools Program Fund is created as a special fund in the State
treasury. Moneys in the Fund shall be used, subject to
appropriation, by the Department of Agriculture and the State
Board of Education for the purposes of this Act.
Section 25. Rules. The Department of Agriculture, with the
cooperation of the Department of Public Health and the State
Board of Education, shall adopt rules for the implementation of
this Act.
Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
Section 5.719 as follows:
(30 ILCS 105/5.719 new)
Sec. 5.719. The Farm Fresh Schools Program Fund.