PRINTER'S NO. 566
No. 542 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY STAIRS, COLAFELLA, FARGO, HERMAN, HERSHEY,
E. Z. TAYLOR, ARGALL, ARMSTRONG, BAKER, BATTISTO,
BENNINGHOFF, CAPPABIANCA, M. COHEN, FORCIER, GEIST, GORDNER,
GRUCELA, HALUSKA, HARHAI, HORSEY, LAUGHLIN, LEH, LYNCH,
MAITLAND, MELIO, S. MILLER, ORIE, PESCI, PETRARCA, PRESTON,
RAMOS, READSHAW, ROBINSON, ROSS, SAINATO, SATHER, SAYLOR,
SEMMEL, SEYFERT, SHANER, SOLOBAY, STABACK, STERN, TRAVAGLIO,
YOUNGBLOOD, ZIMMERMAN AND ZUG, FEBRUARY 10, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 10, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," further providing for agricultural
6 education.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 1549(b) and (c) of the act of March 10,
10 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
11 added June 30, 1995 (P.L.220, No.26), are amended to read:
12 Section 1549. Agricultural Education.--* * *
13 (b) The department shall have the power and its duty shall
14 be to:
15 (1) Provide, in conjunction with the Department of
16 Agriculture, resource information to educators and public and
17 private schools and organizations on agricultural education.
1 (2) Provide [for], in conjunction with the Department of
2 Agriculture, for the development and distribution to school
3 entities or private or nonpublic kindergartens, elementary or
4 secondary schools in this Commonwealth materials on agricultural
5 education. Such materials may include instruction on issues
6 related to agriculture, including, but not limited to, food
7 safety, pesticides, farmland preservation, waste management,
8 wetlands, nutrient management, food production and food
9 processing, animal health and statutory and regulatory
10 protections of the right to farm.
11 (3) Identify, recognize and establish, in conjunction with
12 the Department of Agriculture, awards for exemplary agricultural
13 education curricula developed in Commonwealth schools.
14 (4) Use local school district occupational advisory
15 committees, as well as the facilities and equipment of the
16 Department of Agriculture, to serve as the conduit to bring
17 youth and adult education programs into communities and schools,
18 focusing on agricultural industry issues of importance to this
19 Commonwealth.
20 (5) Maintain, in conjunction with the Department of
21 Agriculture, an inventory of agricultural education materials,
22 programs and resources available in Commonwealth agencies.
23 (c) The secretary shall prepare and submit, in conjunction
24 with the Department of Agriculture, an annual report to the
25 Governor and the General Assembly [outlining] on the status of
26 agricultural education in this Commonwealth. The report shall
27 outline agricultural education programs and achievements,
28 [highlighting] highlight new initiatives and [recommending]
29 recommend future program needs.
30 * * *
19990H0542B0566 - 2 -
1 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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