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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to farm-to-school initiatives. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Sections 12.048 and 12.049 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.048. FARM-TO-SCHOOL COORDINATING TASK FORCE. (a) In |
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this section, "task force" means the farm-to-school coordinating |
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task force. |
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(b) The task force consists of members appointed by the |
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commissioner, including representatives of: |
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(1) the department; |
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(2) the Texas Education Agency; |
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(3) the Department of State Health Services; |
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(4) farm organizations; |
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(5) general academic teaching institutions, as |
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defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; and |
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(6) other relevant public and nonprofit entities. |
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(c) The commissioner shall designate a member who |
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represents the department to be the chair of the task force. Members |
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serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. |
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(d) The task force shall: |
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(1) develop a multipartner approach to farm-to-school |
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initiatives in this state; |
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(2) design nutrition and food education resources to |
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educate students about family farms, local agriculture, and |
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sustainable food systems with a strong focus on fresh, locally |
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produced fruits and vegetables; |
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(3) create useful and practical farm-to-school |
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resources for teachers that are easily incorporated into core |
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curriculum classes and are tied to current curriculum requirements; |
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(4) expand food-focused experiential education |
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efforts; |
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(5) develop a database of available local products for |
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school food service agencies, including contact and purchasing |
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information; and |
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(6) advise the department on the development and |
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administration of the grant programs under Section 12.049. |
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Sec. 12.049. FARM-TO-SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAMS. (a) Subject to |
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available funding, the department shall develop and administer |
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grant programs for school districts to: |
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(1) purchase locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, |
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and other foods for school lunch and breakfast programs; |
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(2) create and maintain school gardens and conduct |
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extension education activities including farm field trips; and |
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(3) offer support for farm-to-school programs. |
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(b) The department shall adopt rules for the grant programs, |
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including criteria for selecting grant recipients. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable on or after the effective |
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date of this Act, the commissioner of agriculture shall appoint the |
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initial members of the farm-to-school coordinating task force under |
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Section 12.048, Agriculture Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |