Bill Text: GA HB843 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Agriculture; farm to school program to promote sale of Georgia products to school districts; provide

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-01 - House Second Readers [HB843 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HB843-Introduced.html

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12 LC 40 0051

House Bill 843

By: Representatives Benfield of the 85th, Ashe of the 56th, Kaiser of the 59th, Dobbs of the 53rd, Oliver of the 83rd, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Chapter 8 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to agricultural commodities promotion, so as 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 amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the State Board of Education, so as to provide for a program to encourage and solicit county and independent school districts to purchase Georgia-grown farm products; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 8 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to agricultural commodities promotion, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:

"ARTICLE 6

2-8-150.

There is established within the department a farm to school program. The department, in coordination with the efforts of the Department of Education under Code Section 20-2-21, 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 districts, schools, 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 Education, facilitate purchases from local farmers by such interested school districts; and

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

SECTION 2.

Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the State Board of Education, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"20-2-21.

The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, school food service directors, and interested farming organizations, shall:

(1) Establish a week-long promotional event, to be known as 'Georgia Grown for Georgia Kids Week,' each year that will promote Georgia agriculture and foods to children through school meal and classroom programs and at farms, farmers' markets, and other locations in this state;

(2) Encourage and solicit county and independent school districts to purchase Georgia-grown farm products;

(3) Provide outreach, guidance, and training to school districts, parent and teacher organizations, and school food service directors concerning the value of and procedure for purchasing and incorporating into their regular menus Georgia-grown farm products;

(4) In coordination with the efforts of the Department of Agriculture under Code Section 2-8-150, arrange for local, regional, and state-wide events where potential purchasers and farmers can interact; and

(5) Arrange for interaction between students and farmers, including field trips to farms and in-school presentations by farmers."

SECTION 3.

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