Bill Text: NY S01463 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Amended

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Bill Title: Authorizes the commissioner of agriculture and markets to create an annual award to recognize school staff involved in a farm-to-school program or school garden.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-03 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION [S01463 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-S01463-Amended.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                         1463--A
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                    IN SENATE
                                     January 9, 2017
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Education  --  committee
          discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
          to said committee
        AN  ACT  to  authorize  the  commissioner  of agriculture and markets to
          create an annual award to recognize school staff involved in  a  farm-
          to-school program or school garden
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. The commissioner  of  agriculture  and  markets  is  hereby
     2  authorized  and  directed  to create an award to be presented every year
     3  hereafter in recognition of school staff that collectively developed  an
     4  exceptional  farm-to-school  program  or school garden at their place of
     5  employment.   The commissioner  of  agriculture  and  markets  shall  be
     6  authorized  to  provide  funds for this award only to the extent that an
     7  appropriation is available for this act's specific purpose.
     8    § 2. (a) Candidates can be  nominated  by  their  school's  principal,
     9  their  peers,  or community members. The commissioner of agriculture and
    10  markets is instructed to seek candidates with  at  least  the  qualities
    11  prescribed  in  this  section, though additional criteria not prescribed
    12  here may be used when  evaluating  candidates.  With  respect  to  their
    13  school's farm-to-school program or school garden candidates should:
    14    (i) demonstrate excellence in the field, guiding students of all back-
    15  grounds and abilities to achieve excellence;
    16    (ii)  consistently  demonstrate  a positive impact on student achieve-
    17  ment;
    18    (iii) collaborate with colleagues, students, and families to create  a
    19  school culture of respect and success;
    20    (iv)  demonstrate  leadership  and  innovation  in  and outside of the
    21  classroom walls that embodies lifelong learning; and
    22    (v) express themselves in an engaging and articulate way.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07035-06-7
        S. 1463--A                          2
     1    (b) For each quality  listed  in  subdivision  (a)  of  this  section,
     2  specific  examples and data shall be provided on behalf of each group of
     3  candidates. However, primarily  quantitative  responses  should  not  be
     4  favored   where   quantitative  data  obscures  qualitative  information
     5  concerning student experiences. Special consideration should be given to
     6  those  candidates that integrate local or regional agricultural products
     7  of any kind in to the classroom, cafeteria, and curriculum, or that have
     8  founded school gardens or mini-farms.
     9    § 3. Awards shall consist of a credit covering any  tuition  and  fees
    10  incurred  subsequent  to  an awardee's enrollment in any part of SUNY or
    11  CUNY, if such enrollment occurs. This  credit  will  be  capped  at  the
    12  tuition and fees associated with a maximum of six credit hours.
    13    §  4.  Awards  shall  be given each year at the New York state fair in
    14  consultation with the state fair's agriculture department, the  director
    15  of  the  state  fair  and the commissioner of education.  The first such
    16  award will be granted in the year following the year of enactment.
    17    § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.