REFERENCE TITLE: schools; agriculture; study

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fiftieth Legislature Second Regular Session 2012

HB 2822

Introduced by Representatives Pancrazi, Farley, Saldate, Tovar: Ableser, Alston, Crandell, Jones, McCune Davis, Pratt

 

AN ACT

 

establishing The joint legislative study committee on farm‑to‑school programs.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Joint legislative study committee on farm‑to‑school programs; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A.  The joint legislative study committee on farm‑to‑school programs is established consisting of the following members:

1.  Two members of the senate, neither of whom are members of the same political party, who are appointed by the president of the senate.

2.  Two members of the house of representatives, neither of whom are members of the same political party, who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

3.  An employee of the department of education who is appointed by the superintendent of public instruction.

4.  The director of the Arizona department of agriculture or the  director's designee.

5.  A representative from a statewide organization of farmers who is appointed by the president of the senate.

6.  A representative from a statewide organization of cattle ranchers who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

7.  A representative from a county public health agency located in a county with a population of more than eight hundred thousand persons who is appointed by the president of the senate.

8.  A representative from a nonprofit organization devoted to addressing hunger or sustainable food, or both, who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

B.  The committee shall:

1.  Evaluate methods to facilitate the purchase of locally grown produce by schools, school districts and charter schools.

2.  Evaluate methods to encourage educational opportunities at school sites through school and community gardens and field trips to provide school pupils a greater understanding of where the pupils' food comes from and what it takes to produce that food.

3.  Evaluate mechanisms and recommend proposed legislation to address any administrative, logistical or legal barriers that deter or prevent school districts and charter schools from purchasing locally grown foods.

4.  Consider the need for a full‑time position at the Arizona department of agriculture to facilitate the exchange of information and purchases between farmers and schools.

5.  Submit a report regarding the committee's activities and recommendations for legislative action on or before December 31, 2013 to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

C.  The committee may use the services and expertise of the staff and facilities of the house of representatives, the senate and the universities under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents.

D.  This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2014.