PRINTER'S NO. 1769
No. 1209 Session of 2006
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 AND STOUT, APRIL 27, 2006
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, APRIL 27, 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 16 economic engine. Unfortunately, the percentage of our
1 population directly involved in agriculture has decreased 2 dramatically over the last several decades. Knowledge about 3 the sources of our food and agriculture in Pennsylvania is 4 not widespread in our communities, particularly in less 5 affluent areas. Educational programs for young children 6 providing hands-on experience with agriculture increases an 7 awareness of what constitutes a healthy diet. Thus, it is 8 vital to inform the future citizens of this Commonwealth 9 about good eating habits, while demonstrating the importance 10 of the role of local farms in achieving this crucial goal. 11 (3) An initiative accomplishing this two-fold purpose is 12 decisive in ensuring the citizenry of this Commonwealth will 13 be healthy in the coming years. The purposes of this program 14 are to educate kindergartners and their families about the 15 importance of choosing healthy, locally produced foods and 16 increase awareness of Pennsylvania agriculture. Furthermore, 17 the initiative should aid Pennsylvania farmers in gaining 18 access to new markets within this Commonwealth. Consequently, 19 the Commonwealth should institute a program including: 20 (i) Nutrition education involving student 21 participation which is integrated into regular subjects 22 in the curriculum of primary and secondary education 23 institutions. 24 (ii) Focusing on locally grown foods provided from 25 Pennsylvania farms. 26 (iii) Equipping teachers and other educators to 27 incorporate nutrition and agriculture education into 28 their instruction. 29 (iv) Providing for new direct marketing 30 opportunities for Pennsylvania farmers. 20060S1209B1769 - 2 -
1 (v) Providing for family and community involvement, 2 including parent, caregiver and community group 3 participation in education activities. 4 (vi) Visits to nearby farms for school children so 5 they may understand and learn more about the sources of 6 their food. 7 Section 3. Definitions. 8 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 9 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 10 context clearly indicates otherwise: 11 "Department." The Department of Agriculture of the 12 Commonwealth. 13 "Program." The Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Program 14 established under this act. 15 "Secretary." The Secretary of Agriculture of the 16 Commonwealth. 17 Section 4. Grant program. 18 (a) Authorization.--The department, in consultation with the 19 Department of Education and the Department of Health, is 20 authorized to establish a program to award grants for the 21 purpose of developing the Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools 22 Program in kindergarten classes in this Commonwealth. 23 (b) Eligibility.--Any public or private school with a 24 kindergarten program may submit an application to the department 25 for funding. 26 (c) Program requirements.--The program shall contain the 27 following elements: 28 (1) A list of Pennsylvania farmers who have agreed to 29 supply food products from Pennsylvania farms, verifiable by 30 the department. 20060S1209B1769 - 3 -
1 (2) Nutrition and agriculture education, including 2 integration into regular classroom subjects. 3 (3) Training of teachers and other educational staff on 4 nutrition and agriculture education. 5 (4) The inclusion of parents, caregivers and community 6 groups in educational activities. 7 (5) Field trips to Pennsylvania farms or other direct 8 agricultural educational experiences which teach children 9 about sources of food and Pennsylvania agriculture. 10 Section 5. Limitation on grants. 11 (a) Matching.--Grant amounts shall be limited to 75% of the 12 amount necessary to develop the program, not to exceed $15,000 13 annually, per school. Applicants may use in-kind support to 14 match the amount granted. 15 (b) Conditions.--The secretary may approve a grant in an 16 amount less than the requested amount. The secretary may also 17 impose restrictions or special conditions upon issuance of the 18 grant. 19 Section 6. Applications and review of applications. 20 (a) Submission.--Applications for grants shall be submitted 21 in a manner and form as prescribed by the secretary. 22 (b) Evaluation.--When reviewing applications, the secretary 23 shall evaluate applications annually on the basis of all of the 24 following: 25 (1) The ability of the applicant to complete the 26 program. 27 (2) The ability of the applicant to incorporate all of 28 the program requirements. 29 (3) The location of the school in an area where a high 30 percentage of the children receive free or reduced-price 20060S1209B1769 - 4 -
1 school meals. 2 (4) The potential of the program to increase knowledge 3 about nutrition and healthy eating habits for the children, 4 their caregivers and the community. 5 (5) The potential of the program to increase knowledge 6 about Pennsylvania agriculture for the children, their 7 caregivers and the community. 8 (6) The ability of the applicant to procure locally 9 grown foods for their program. 10 (7) The potential of the program to increase markets for 11 local agricultural producers. 12 (8) The number of people who will be served by the 13 program. 14 (9) The ability of the applicant to sustain the program. 15 (10) The overall performance of the applicant if a grant 16 was received in a previous year. 17 Section 7. Disposition of grants. 18 (a) Written agreement.--The department may require a written 19 agreement describing the terms and conditions of the grant. 20 (b) Verification.--The department may require verification 21 of grant expenditures. 22 (c) Criteria.--The department may establish criteria under 23 which the secretary may demand the return of all or a portion of 24 the grant funds. 25 Section 8. Administration and contracting. 26 Funds appropriated for this program may be used for 27 administrative purposes which execute the program, including 28 contracting with one or more entities to carry out the 29 provisions of this act. 30 Section 9. Regulations. 20060S1209B1769 - 5 -
1 The department shall promulgate regulations as it deems 2 necessary to carry out the purposes of this act. 3 Section 10. Funding. 4 Grants shall be awarded to the extent funds are made 5 available by the General Assembly. 6 Section 11. Effective date. 7 This act shall take effect in 60 days. D20L03JKL/20060S1209B1769 - 6 -