Establishes a farm-to-school task force; directs the commissioner of education to develop a program to require all public schools to provide fresh foods to students in a manner that supports local agriculture and increases market opportunities for farmers from under-represented communities.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5462B
SPONSOR: Kelles TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to estab-
lishing a farm-to-school task force; and to amend the education law, in
relation to requiring all public schools to provide fresh foods to
students in a manner that supports local agriculture and increases
market opportunities for farmers from under-represented communities
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this legislation is to create a task force for urban and
rural agricultural regions to work with school food providers and farm-
ers to develop recommendations that will provide fresh foods in all New
York State public schools in a manner that supports local agriculture
while providing market opportunities for under-represented farmers.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new paragraph (d) to Subdivision 5-B of Section 16 of
the Agriculture and Markets Law that establishes a task force that will
study and make recommendations on how to provide fresh foods in all
school districts in New York in a manner that supports local agriculture
while providing market opportunities for under-represented farmers. The
task force will consist of 9 members who shall possess expertise in
issues relating to the work of the task force. The task force members
shall be appointed as follows: 2 members by the governor, 2 members by
the speaker of the assembly, 2 members by the temporary president of the
senate, 1 member by the minority leader of the assembly, 1 member by the
minority leader of the senate, and the commissioner, or their designee,
of the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The commissioner, or their
designee, shall serve as the chairperson of the task force.
Section 2 amends Subdivision of Section 305 of the Education Law by
requiring the commissioner of the State Education Department to develop
a program based on the findings of the task force to require all school
districts to provide fresh foods to students in a manner that supports
local agriculture and provides market opportunities for under-represent-
ed farmers.
Section 3 is the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION:
The amended version includes language to clarify that the Commissioner
shall require all school districts in the state to provide fresh foods
to students in a manner that supports New York local agriculture while
increasing market opportunities for farmers from under-represented
communities.
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill will build a bridge between our state's schools and the bounty
of New York's farms. It will help us accomplish three major goals:
first, provide the best quality fruits and vegetables available to
schools in every school district in our state; second, help establish
healthy eating habits for children in their formative years; and third,
help guarantee the future of farming in New York by promoting local
agriculture and market opportunities for under-represented farmers. This
will be a win/win situation for students, educators, school districts,
and the state's agricultural community.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-2020: S.7925 - Referred to Agriculture
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law.
