74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2008 Special 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 79
 
                         House Bill 3601
 
Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS, ETHICS AND RULES (at the
  request of House Interim Committee on Education)
 
 
                             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 as
introduced.
 
  Requires Department of Education to establish Oregon
Farm-to-School and School Garden Program.
  Appropriates moneys from General Fund to department for program
implementation.
  Declares emergency, effective on passage.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to Oregon Farm-to-School and School Garden Program;
  appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.
  Whereas farm-to-school programs have been shown to result in
increased market opportunities for farmers, fishers, ranchers,
food processors and food manufacturers and to support economic
development; and
  Whereas farm-to-school and school garden programs improve
children's and the community's knowledge about, and attitudes
toward, agriculture, food, nutrition and the environment; and
  Whereas farm-to-school and school garden programs have been
shown to increase children's participation in school meal
programs and consumption of fruits and vegetables, thereby
improving childhood nutrition and preventing obesity and
obesity-related diseases; and
  Whereas these programs, by decreasing the distance between
producers and consumers, promote community food security while
reducing emission of greenhouse gases and reliance on oil; and
  Whereas the Legislative Assembly finds that it is in the best
interests of Oregon's children, farmers, fishers, ranchers, food
processors, food 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
the Oregon Farm-to-School and School Garden Program. Through the
program, the department shall:
  (a) Assist school districts that participate in the United
States Department of Agriculture's National School Lunch Program
or School Breakfast Program in utilizing Oregon food products and
produce from school gardens;
  (b) Promote food- and garden-based educational activities in
school districts that participate in the United States Department
 
of Agriculture's National School Lunch Program or School
Breakfast Program;
  (c) Provide information to school districts on how
farm-to-school and school garden projects may help implement
wellness policies mandated by the United States Department of
Agriculture;
  (d) Assist school districts in incorporating farm-to-school and
school garden projects into wellness policies mandated by the
United States Department of Agriculture;
  (e) Work with the State Department of Agriculture to develop
farm-to-school related programs; and
  (f) Perform other activities necessary to facilitate the
success of the Oregon Farm-to-School and School Garden Program.
  (2) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary
for the administration of this section.
  (3)(a) For the purpose of paying the costs of the Department of
Education of administering the Oregon Farm-to-School and School
Garden Program, the department may accept contributions of moneys
and assistance from any source, public or private, and agree to
conditions placed on the moneys not inconsistent with the duties
of the department under this section.
  (b) Any moneys received by the department under this subsection
shall be placed in the Department of Education Account. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + On or before February 1, 2009, the Department
of Education shall report, in the manner provided in ORS 192.245,
to the Seventy-fifth Legislative Assembly on the activities
related to the Oregon Farm-to-School and School Garden Program
established under section 1 of this 2008 Act. + }
  SECTION 3.  { + Section 1 of this 2008 Act becomes operative on
July 1, 2008. + }
  SECTION 4.  { + There is appropriated to the Department of
Education, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2007, out of the
General Fund, the amount of $95,000 for the purposes of the
Oregon Farm-to-School and School Garden Program established under
section 1 of this 2008 Act. + }
  SECTION 5.  { + This 2008 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2008 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
                         ----------