Representative Stephen G. Handy proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM

2     
2022 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Stephen G. Handy

5     
Senate Sponsor: Gene Davis

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill enacts provisions to codify Utah's farm to school program.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms;
13          ▸     creates the Utah Farm to Fork Commission (commission);
14          ▸     provides the membership and duties of the commission; and
15          ▸     allows the commission to establish or coordinate with a task force to fulfill the
16     commission's duties.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     ENACTS:
23          63C-25-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24          63C-25-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25          63C-25-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953

26     

27     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28          Section 1. Section 63C-25-101 is enacted to read:
29     
CHAPTER 25. UTAH FARM TO FORK COMMISSION

30     
Part 1. General Provisions

31          63C-25-101. Definitions.
32          (1) "Childcare" center means a licensed childcare center that participates in a federal
33     program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children who
34     are enrolled for care at participating childcare centers.
35          (2) "Commission" means the Utah Farm to Fork Commission created in Section
36     63C-25-201.
37          (3) "School" means any accredited K-12 school in the state.
38          (4) "Statewide farm to school strategic plan" means statewide plan to connect schools
39     with nearby farms to:
40          (a) provide children with locally produced fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products,
41     and other nutritious, locally produced foods in school breakfasts, lunches, and snacks;
42          (b) help children develop healthy eating habits;
43          (c) provide nutritional and agricultural education; and
44          (d) improve farmers' incomes and direct access to markets.
45          Section 2. Section 63C-25-201 is enacted to read:
46     
Part 2. Commission Duties

47          63C-25-201. Utah Farm to Fork Commission.
48          (1) There is created the Utah Farm to Fork Commission.
49          (2) The commission consists of the following three members:
50          (a) the executive director of the Department of Health or the executive director's
51     designee from among Department of Health employees;
52          (b) the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food or the commissioner's
53     designee from among Department of Agriculture and Food employees; and
54          (c) the state superintendent of public instruction appointed under Section 53E-3-301 or
55     the state superintendent's designee from among State Board of Education employees.
56          (3) A commission member may not receive salary or expenses for the member's service

57     on the commission other than the existing salary and benefits related to the member's state
58     employment.
59          (4) (a) A majority of the commission members constitutes a quorum.
60          (b) The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes an action of the commission.
61          (5) The Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Food, and the State
62     Board of Education shall:
63          (a) provide one full-time employee each to oversee each entity's participation in the
64     statewide farm to school strategic plan; and
65          (b) jointly provide staff support to the commission.
66          Section 3. Section 63C-25-202 is enacted to read:
67          63C-25-202. Commission duties.
68          (1) The commission shall:
69          (a) identify impediments to providing locally produced fresh fruits and vegetables,
70     dairy products, and other nutritious, locally produced foods in school breakfasts, lunches, and
71     snacks and seek to reduce those impediments;
72          (b) advise other state agencies and local agencies on actions to promote farm to school
73     programs;
74          (c) promote communications between local farmers and schools and childcare centers
75     and sales of food from local farmers to schools and childcare centers;
76          (d) develop a statewide farm to school strategic plan;
77          (e) maintain a farm to school knowledge base, including a database of producers,
78     school gardens, and other relevant resources;
79          (f) host training or conference events for:
80          (i) school food service personnel and managers, farmers, and food distributors and
81     processors concerning farm to school programs and food safety and procurement; and
82          (ii) knowledge and resources to farmers regarding sales within the farm to school
83     strategic plan;
84          (g) establish a promotional program that provides educational resources for
85     classrooms, cafeterias, and gardens that showcase Utah-grown foods; and
86          (h) provide information on a website concerning the statewide farm to school strategic
87     plan.

88          (2) The commission may establish or coordinate with a task force to fulfill the duties
89     described in this section.