Bill Text: NJ A3058 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Farm to School Coordinating Council.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 16-6)
Status: (Passed) 2017-08-07 - Approved P.L.2017, c.211. [A3058 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A3058-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PARKER SPACE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Assemblyman ADAM J. TALIAFERRO
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Farm to School Coordinating Council.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act creating the Farm to School Coordinating Council.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Department of Agriculture the Farm to School Coordinating Council. The council shall consist of five members as follows:
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture, or the secretary's designee;
(2) the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; and
(3) three members of the public appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, who have experience working with the New Jersey Farm to School Program.
b. The Governor shall appoint the chairperson of the council. The council shall hold its first meeting as soon as practicable after the appointment of the public members.
c. The council may meet and hold hearings at the times and places it designates.
d. The council may call upon any department, office, division, or agency of State government as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes, as may be necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.
e. Any vacancy in the membership of the council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
2. a. The Farm to School Coordinating Council shall examine all areas of the New Jersey Farm to School Program and identify any outstanding issues or problems that need to be resolved and areas in need of improvement. The council shall focus on the procurement process relating to the purchase of agricultural products by schools from New Jersey farmers, and recommend ways to increase the participation of both farmers and schools in the program. The council shall also make recommendations on ways to promote and increase the use of fresh farm foods at schools throughout the State.
b. Within one year after its first meeting, the council shall prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), with its findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Copies of the report shall also be provided to the public upon request free of charge, and posted on the Internet websites of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education.
3. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire on the 60th day after submittal of the report required pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish the Farm to School Coordinating Council in the Department of Agriculture. The council would consist of five members as follows: the Secretary of Agriculture, or the secretary's designee; the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; and three members of the public appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, who have experience working with the New Jersey Farm to School Program.
The council would examine all areas of the New Jersey Farm to School Program and identify any outstanding issues or problems that need to be resolved and areas in need of improvement. The council would focus on the procurement process relating to the purchase of agricultural products by schools from New Jersey farmers, and recommend ways to increase the participation of both farmers and schools in the program. The council would also make recommendations on ways to promote and increase the use of fresh farm foods at schools throughout the State.
The council, within one year after its first meeting, would prepare and submit a written report to the Governor and to the Legislature with its findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Copies of the report would also be provided to the public upon request free of charge, and posted on the Internet websites of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education.
