HEALTHY FARMS AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS ACT — 2006 Pa. Act 184 (historical enacted text)

Historical Act text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1769 PRINTER'S NO. 2047
INTRODUCED BY WAUGH, KITCHEN, WENGER, FUMO, MADIGAN, REGOLA,
TARTAGLIONE, BOSCOLA, MUSTO, O'PAKE, ERICKSON, RAFFERTY,
SCARNATI, RHOADES, FONTANA, PILEGGI, COSTA, PUNT, ORIE,
LEMMOND, CORMAN, GORDNER, GREENLEAF, BROWNE, C. WILLIAMS,
WASHINGTON, STOUT, A. WILLIAMS, LOGAN AND HUGHES,
APRIL 27, 2006
SENATOR WENGER, APPROPRIATIONS, RE-REPORTED AS AMENDED,
SEPTEMBER 19, 2006
AN ACT
1 Providing for the Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Program.
2 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
3 hereby enacts as follows:
4 Section 1. Short title.
5 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Healthy Farms
6 and Healthy Schools Act.
7 Section 2. Findings and declarations.
8 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
9 (1) An alarming percentage of our school-aged children
10 have an unhealthy weight. In large part, this is due to poor
11 eating habits. Pilot programs have shown that focused
12 nutritional education in the early school years coupled with
13 exposure to a variety of healthy foods can initiate a long-
14 term increase in healthy eating habits as children mature.
15 (2) Agriculture is this Commonwealth's most successful
1 economic engine. Unfortunately, the percentage of our
2 population directly involved in agriculture has decreased
3 dramatically over the last several decades. Knowledge about
4 the sources of our food and agriculture in Pennsylvania is
5 not widespread in our communities, particularly in less
6 affluent areas. Educational programs for young children
7 providing hands-on experience with agriculture increases an
8 awareness of what constitutes a healthy diet. Thus, it is
9 vital to inform the future citizens of this Commonwealth
10 about good eating habits, while demonstrating the importance
11 of the role of local farms in achieving this crucial goal.
12 (3) An initiative accomplishing this two-fold purpose is
13 decisive in ensuring the citizenry of this Commonwealth will
14 be healthy in the coming years. The purposes of this program
15 are to educate kindergartners and their families about the
16 importance of choosing healthy, locally produced foods and
17 increase awareness of Pennsylvania agriculture. Furthermore,
18 the initiative should aid Pennsylvania farmers in gaining
19 access to new markets within this Commonwealth. Consequently,
20 the Commonwealth should institute a program including:
21 (i) Nutrition education involving student
22 participation which is integrated into regular subjects
23 in the curriculum of primary and secondary education
24 institutions.
25 (ii) Focusing on locally grown foods provided from
26 Pennsylvania farms.
27 (iii) Equipping teachers and other educators to
28 incorporate nutrition and agriculture education into
29 their instruction.
30 (iv) Providing for new direct marketing
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1 opportunities for Pennsylvania farmers.
2 (v) Providing for family and community involvement,
3 including parent, caregiver and community group
4 participation in education activities.
5 (vi) Visits to nearby farms for school children so
6 they may understand and learn more about the sources of
7 their food.
8 Section 3. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Department." The Department of Agriculture of the
13 Commonwealth.
14 "Program." The Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Program
15 established under this act.
16 "Secretary." The Secretary of Agriculture of the
17 Commonwealth.
18 Section 4. Grant program.
19 (a) Authorization.--The department, in consultation with the
20 Department of Education and the Department of Health, is
21 authorized to establish a program to award grants for the
22 purpose of developing the Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools
23 Program in kindergarten classes in this Commonwealth.
24 (b) Eligibility.--Any public SCHOOL DISTRICT, CHARTER SCHOOL <--
25 or private school with a kindergarten program may submit an
26 application to the department for funding.
27 (c) Program requirements.--The program shall contain the
28 following elements:
29 (1) A list of Pennsylvania farmers who have agreed to
30 supply food products from Pennsylvania farms, verifiable by
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1 the department.
2 (2) Nutrition and agriculture education, including
3 integration into regular classroom subjects.
4 (3) Training of teachers and other educational staff on
5 nutrition and agriculture education.
6 (4) The inclusion of parents, caregivers and community
7 groups in educational activities.
8 (5) Field trips to Pennsylvania farms or other direct
9 agricultural educational experiences which teach children
10 about sources of food and Pennsylvania agriculture.
11 Section 5. Limitation on grants.
12 (a) Matching.--Grant amounts shall be limited to 75% of the
13 amount necessary to develop the program, not to exceed $15,000
14 annually, per school. Applicants may use in-kind support to
15 match the amount granted.
16 (b) Conditions.--The secretary may approve a grant in an
17 amount less than the requested amount. The secretary may also
18 impose restrictions or special conditions upon issuance of the
19 grant.
20 Section 6. Applications and review of applications.
21 (a) Submission.--Applications for grants shall be submitted
22 in a manner and form as prescribed by the secretary.
23 (b) Evaluation.--When reviewing applications, the secretary
24 shall evaluate applications annually on the basis of all of the
25 following:
26 (1) The ability of the applicant to complete the
27 program.
28 (2) The ability of the applicant to incorporate all of
29 the program requirements.
30 (3) The location of the school in an area where a high
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1 percentage of the children receive free or reduced-price
2 school meals.
3 (4) The potential of the program to increase knowledge
4 about nutrition and healthy eating habits for the children,
5 their caregivers and the community.
6 (5) The potential of the program to increase knowledge
7 about Pennsylvania agriculture for the children, their
8 caregivers and the community.
9 (6) The ability of the applicant to procure locally
10 grown foods for their program.
11 (7) The potential of the program to increase markets for
12 local agricultural producers.
13 (8) The number of people who will be served by the
14 program.
15 (9) The ability of the applicant to sustain the program.
16 (10) The overall performance of the applicant if a grant
17 was received in a previous year.
18 Section 7. Disposition of grants.
19 (a) Written agreement.--The department may require a written
20 agreement describing the terms and conditions of the grant.
21 (b) Verification.--The department may require verification
22 of grant expenditures.
23 (c) Criteria.--The department may establish criteria under
24 which the secretary may demand the return of all or a portion of
25 the grant funds.
26 Section 8. Administration and contracting.
27 Funds appropriated for this program may be used for
28 administrative purposes which execute the program, including
29 contracting with one or more entities to carry out the
30 provisions of this act.
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1 Section 9. Regulations.
2 The department shall promulgate regulations as it deems
3 necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.
4 Section 10. Funding.
5 Grants shall be awarded to the extent funds are made
6 available by the General Assembly.
7 Section 11. Effective date.
8 This act shall take effect in 60 days. <--
9 THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT JULY 1, 2007. <--
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