Bill Text: NJ A156 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires Department of Agriculture to post on its website certain information regarding State's farm to school program.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 10-6)
Status: (Passed) 2014-08-25 - Approved P.L.2014, c.37. [A156 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A156-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PARKER SPACE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Assemblywoman ALISON LITTELL MCHOSE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Dancer
SYNOPSIS
Requires Department of Agriculture to post on its website certain information regarding State's farm to school program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning the Internet publication of certain information related to the "New Jersey Farm to School Program," and amending P.L.2011, c.10.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2011, c.10 (C.4:10-25.2) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. The Department of Agriculture shall develop [the program] a "New Jersey Farm to School Program" and, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations for its implementation, including, but not necessarily limited to, [providing] rules and regulations that:
(1) provide encouragement for schools that participate in school meal programs to expand or improve their kitchen facilities to allow for [producing] the daily production of meals that incorporate more fresh, locally grown or produced farm produce, fruit or other products [on a daily basis];
(2) establish a bidding matrix that provides for school purchases of New Jersey-grown food and allows schools to adopt price preferences for local agricultural and farm products; and
(3) in conjunction and cooperation with the Department of Education, provide for the incorporation and coordination of school curricula with information about:
(a) New Jersey agriculture;
(b) the importance and significance of farms and farmers to New Jersey's economy, culture, history, and quality of life; and
(c) the health value of eating fresh farm foods and locally grown produce and fruits.
b. The Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Department of Education, shall develop a training program with [the] emphasis on the theme of "Farm to School" and shall offer this program to schools, teachers, and other event providers.
c. (1) The Department of Agriculture shall establish a "New Jersey Farm to School" website that shall be designed to :
(a) provide opportunities for the establishment of purchasing networks between and among farmers, distributors, and schools [to create purchasing networks, to] or school districts;
(b) [develop and refine] facilitate the development and refinement of promotional events [for] in association with "Jersey Fresh Farm to School [Week,"] Week"; and [to disseminate]
(c) provide for the dissemination of information about , and the website-based promotion of, these and other related events.
The department shall include on the "New Jersey Farm to School" website a copy of any public contract or other written agreement for the purchase of fresh foods and the provision thereof to school children, which has been entered into and successfully implemented by any school or school district in the State.
(2) The department shall post, in a prominent location on the homepage of its Internet website, a hyperlink that provides visitors with direct access to the "New Jersey Farm to School" website established pursuant to this subsection.
(cf: P.L.2011, c.10, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Department of Agriculture to post on its departmental website, as well as on the "New Jersey Farm to School" website, certain information and hyperlinks related to the "New Jersey Farm to School" program.
State law currently requires the Department of Agriculture to establish and maintain a "New Jersey Farm to School" website, which is designed to provide opportunities for the establishment of purchasing networks; facilitate the development and refinement of promotional events in association with "Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week"; and provide for the dissemination of information in association with these and other related events.
This bill would additionally specify that the department must: (1) post, in a prominent location on the homepage of its departmental website, a hyperlink that provides visitors with direct access to the separate and distinct "New Jersey Farm to School" website; and (2) post, on the "New Jersey Farm to School" website, a copy of any written agreement for the purchase of fresh foods and the provision thereof to school children, which has been entered into and successfully implemented by any school or school district in the State.
