What's happening
This bill directs the agriculture commissioner to study Vermont's farm-to-school programs and recommend how to implement a similar model in New York.
Why it matters
Could lead to expansion of farm-to-school programs in New York,. potentially improving access to fresh, local foods for students and supporting local agriculture.
Focuses on comprehensive learning from Vermont’s established model,. including curriculum integration and staff training, which could result in more effective and sustainable program rollouts in New York schools.
Mandates a detailed report and legislative recommendations,. which raises the likelihood of concrete policy actions or funding proposals based on findings, rather than just a general study.
May establish a statewide knowledge clearinghouse,. giving New York educators and administrators access to best practices and resources for implementing farm-to-school initiatives, increasing program quality and consistency.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Study Vermont Farm-to-School Program
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Reported and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1471
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to authorize and direct the commissioner of the department of agriculture and markets to study leaders in farm-to-school program development so that a knowledge clearinghouse may be established
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The commissioner of the department of agriculture and markets is hereby authorized and directed to conduct a study on the Vermont Food Education Every Day program, a national leader in farm-toschool program development, and its parent organizations, Shelburne Farms and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont. Special attention should be given to: the program models; philosophies; curriculum integration approach; and staff training programs utilized by the Vermont Food Education Every Day program.
§ 2. Within one year of the effective date of this act the commissioner of agriculture and markets shall deliver a report of his or her findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation to the governor and the legislature. The report should describe with particularity how a program, similar in resources and approach to that of the Vermont Food Education Every Day program, may be implemented in this state.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06737-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to authorize and direct the commissioner of the department of agriculture and markets to study leaders in farm-to-school program development so that a knowledge clearinghouse may be established
Purpose
To direct the Commissioner of the State Department of Agriculture and Markets to study a national leader in farm-to-school program development, VT FEED, and its parent organizations Shelburne Farms and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT).
Summary of provisions
The bill requires the Commissioner of the State Department of Agriculture and Markets to study VT FEEED's program models, philosophies, curriculum integration approach, and staff training programs so that a similar knowledge clearinghouse might be established in New York State. The Commissioner is directed to deliver a report to the Governor and the Legislature within one year of the effective date of the act.
Justification
An October 2016 report from the Office of the New York State Comptroller notes that a one size fits all approach will not work when it comes to farm-to-school programs. Each school wishing to start such a program will need to leverage the resources and strengths of its home region. This challenge, as noted by the Comptroller, is exacerbated by a statewide lack of technical assistance. Schools have no single source of aid or information to turn to if they want to start a farm-to-school program, or improve their existing efforts.
A knowledge clearinghouse, similar to VT FEED, would solve this problem. Some New York State Schools, such as the Waterville Central School District, and Rondout Valley, have already utilized VT FEED to achieve award winning results. Schools should never be discouraged from working with exceptional advisors, no matter where they are located, but going out of state for necessary technical assistance should not be a school's only viable option. New York State should develop an organization similar to VT FEED so that schools across New York State can more easily integrate sustainable and healthy food in to classrooms, cafeterias, and communities.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.