What's happening
This bill authorizes an annual state fair award recognizing student groups for outstanding farm-to-school programs or school gardens, including a SUNY/CUNY tuition credit.
Why it matters
Encourages youth leadership and innovation in agriculture. By recognizing students who show initiative and creativity in farm-to-school or school garden programs, the bill fosters a new generation of agricultural leaders and problem-solvers.
Directly links school-based agricultural activities with future educational opportunities. The SUNY/CUNY tuition credit serves as a tangible incentive for students, rewarding hands-on, community-focused engagement with help toward higher education costs.
Promotes integration of local agriculture into education and food systems. Special consideration is given to programs that use local or regional agricultural products, potentially strengthening local food economies and enhancing students' understanding of food systems.
Prioritizes both qualitative and quantitative student achievements. The selection process values not just numbers, but also personal stories and the depth of student involvement, ensuring that meaningful contributions are recognized, not just easily measured ones.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Reward Students for School Gardens
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Print number 1904a
- Amend (t) and recommit to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Reward Students Growing Food
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Carrie Woerner
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1904--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to authorize the commissioner of agriculture and markets to create an annual award to recognize students involved in a farm-toschool program or school garden
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The commissioner of agriculture and markets is hereby authorized and directed to create an award to be presented every year hereafter at the state fair in recognition of student body that, as a group, contributed to the success of a farm-to-school program or school garden at their school. The commissioner of agriculture and markets shall be authorized to provide funds for this award only to the extent that an appropriation is available for this act's specific purpose.
§ 2. (a) Candidates can be nominated by their school's principal or teachers. The commissioner of agriculture and markets is instructed to seek candidates with at least the qualities prescribed in this section, though additional criteria not prescribed here may be used when evaluating candidates. With respect to their school's farm-to-school program or school garden candidates should;
(i) demonstrate commitment and leadership;
(ii) progressively inspire a greater proportion of their school's student body to become involved;
(iii) collaborate with colleagues, students, and their community; and
(iv) create a meaningful and functional program for their school.
(b) For each quality listed in subdivision (a) of this section, specific examples and data shall be provided on behalf of each group of candidates; however, primarily quantitative responses should not be favored where quantitative data obscures qualitative information
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07033-05-7
S. 1904--A 2
concerning the students' experiences. Applications must demonstrate that the relevant program or garden was primarily driven by the creativity and initiative of the student body participating in the program. Special consideration should be given to those candidates that integrate local or regional agricultural products of any kind in to the classroom, cafeteria, and curriculum, or that have founded school gardens or minifarms.
§ 3. Awards shall consist of a credit against any fees or tuition charged during an awardee's first semester of enrollment in any part of SUNY or CUNY, if such enrollment occurs, given in equal dollar amounts to each student individually named in the nomination documentation.
§ 4. Awards shall be given each year at the New York state fair in consultation with the state fair's agriculture department, the director of the state fair and the commissioner of education. The first such award will be granted in the year following the year of enactment.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to authorize the commissioner of agriculture and markets to create an annual award to recognize students involved in a farm-to-school program or school garden
Purpose
To create an annual award, or awards, to recognize the best school garden or farm-to-school program established and operated with significant contributions from its associated student body.
Summary of provisions
The Commissioner of the State Department of Agriculture would be authorized to create a yearly award recognizing the student body that, as a group, contributed to the success of a farm-to-school program or school garden at their school. Funds for the award would be only as much as was appropriated for the purposes of the award, which will consist of a credit against any fees or tuition charged during an awardee's first semester of enrollment in any part of SUNY or CUNY, if such enrollment occurs, given in equal dollar amounts to each student individually named in the nomination documentation.
Justification
School administrators and teachers absolutely deserve to be recognized for their efforts, but students often make significant contributions of time and effort to their school's programs. Innovative farm-to-school programs in Buffalo, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Lake Placid, Poughkeepsie, and Waterville all share high levels of student engagement. Students' collective efforts should be recognized on their own merits, separate from any award going to school staff.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.