CS for SB 140                                    First Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       2010140e1
       
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to school food service programs;
    3         amending s. 1006.06, F.S.; creating the Florida Farm
    4         Fresh Schools Program within the Department of
    5         Education; requiring the program to comply with
    6         regulations of the National School Lunch Program and
    7         meet specified requirements; requiring the department
    8         to work with the Department of Agriculture and
    9         Consumer Services to develop policies that encourage
   10         school districts to buy fresh and local food and
   11         select foods with maximum nutritional content;
   12         requiring the department, in collaboration with the
   13         Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to
   14         provide outreach services regarding the benefits of
   15         fresh food products from this state; providing an
   16         effective date.
   17  
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. Subsection (6) is added to section 1006.06,
   21  Florida Statutes, to read:
   22         1006.06 School food service programs.—
   23         (6) The Legislature, recognizing that school children need
   24  nutritious food not only for healthy physical and intellectual
   25  development but also to combat diseases related to poor
   26  nutrition and obesity, establishes the Florida Farm Fresh
   27  Schools Program within the Department of Education as the lead
   28  agency for the program. The program shall comply with the
   29  regulations of the National School Lunch Program and require:
   30         (a) The Department of Education to work with the Department
   31  of Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop policies
   32  pertaining to school food services which encourage:
   33         1. School districts to buy fresh and high-quality foods
   34  grown in this state when feasible.
   35         2. Farmers in this state to sell their products to school
   36  districts and schools.
   37         3. School districts and schools to demonstrate a preference
   38  for competitively priced organic food products.
   39         (b) School districts and schools to make reasonable efforts
   40  to select foods based on a preference for those that have
   41  maximum nutritional content.
   42         (c) The Department of Education, in collaboration with the
   43  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to provide
   44  outreach, guidance, and training to school districts, schools,
   45  school food service directors, parent and teacher organizations,
   46  and students about the benefits of fresh food products from
   47  farms in this state.
   48         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.