74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 3592
 
                           A-Engrossed
 
                         House Bill 3476
                  Ordered by the House April 18
            Including House Amendments dated April 18
 
Sponsored by Representative KOTEK; Representatives BARNHART,
  BOONE, BOQUIST, BRUUN, CANNON, CLEM, COWAN, DALLUM, D EDWARDS,
  GILLIAM, GIROD, HANNA, HUNT, KOMP, MERKLEY, MINNIS, OLSON,
  ROSENBAUM, SCHAUFLER, TOMEI, WHISNANT, WITT
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
  Directs Department of Education to establish farm-to-school
program. Directs department to reimburse school districts for
meals that utilize   { - food produced or processed in - }
Oregon  { +  agricultural products + }.
  Appropriates moneys from General Fund to department for  { +
purpose of administering program and + } reimbursements.
    { - Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2007. - }
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to farm-to-school program; and appropriating money.
  Whereas farm-to-school programs have been shown to result in
increased market opportunities for farmers, food processors and
manufacturers, to support economic development and to educate
children and the school community about agriculture and food
systems; and
  Whereas farm-to-school programs have been shown to increase
children's consumption of produce, thereby improving childhood
nutrition and lessening the incidence of obesity and
obesity-related disease; and
  Whereas these programs, by decreasing the distance between
producer and consumer, also reduce the emission of greenhouse
gases and reliance on oil; and
  Whereas the Legislative Assembly finds that it is in the best
interest of Oregon children, farmers, food processors,
manufacturers and communities to empower schools to increase
their use of Oregon agricultural products in their school food
service programs; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + (1) The Department of Education shall establish
a farm-to-school program. Through the farm-to-school program, the
department shall:
  (a) Assist school districts in utilizing Oregon agricultural
products and produce from school gardens;
  (b) Evaluate the effects of the farm-to-school program;
 
  (c) Coordinate the farm-to-school program with local school
district wellness policies required by the United States
Department of Agriculture;
  (d) Reimburse school districts that utilize Oregon agricultural
products up to seven cents for every meal served as part of the
National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program; and
  (e) Perform other activities as needed to facilitate the
success of the farm-to-school program.
  (2) Any moneys received by a school district under the
farm-to-school program must be expended for Oregon agricultural
products used in reimbursable meals.
  (3) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary
for the administration of this section. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + There are appropriated to the Department of
Education, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2007, out of the
General Fund, the following amounts:
  (1) For the purpose of administering the farm-to-school program
under section 1 (1)(a) to (c) and (e) of this 2007 Act, $175,000.
  (2) For the purpose of administering the farm-to-school program
under section 1 (1)(d) of this 2007 Act, $8,640,000. + }
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