Florida Senate - 2009                                     SB 254
       
       
       
       By Senator Siplin
       
       
       
       
       19-00174-09                                            2009254__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to school food service programs;
    3         amending s. 1006.06, F.S.; creating the Florida Farm
    4         Fresh Schools Program within the Department of
    5         Agriculture and Consumer Services; providing
    6         legislative intent; requiring the department to work
    7         with the Department of Education to recommend policies
    8         and rules to the State Board of Education relating to
    9         school food services which encourage schools and
   10         school districts in this state to buy fresh and local
   11         food; requiring the Department of Agriculture and
   12         Consumer Services to provide outreach services
   13         regarding the benefits of fresh food products from
   14         this state; exempting the procurement of fresh fruits
   15         and vegetables purchased for the Florida Farm Fresh
   16         Schools Program from certain bid limits pursuant to s.
   17         287.057, F.S.; requiring the program to maintain
   18         compliance with the rules and regulations of the
   19         National School Lunch Program; providing an effective
   20         date.
   21         
   22  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   23         
   24         Section 1. Subsection (6) is added to section 1006.06,
   25  Florida Statutes, to read:
   26         1006.06 School food service programs.—
   27         (6) The Legislature, recognizing that school children need
   28  nutritious food not only for healthy physical and intellectual
   29  development, but also to combat diseases related to poor
   30  nutrition and obesity, establishes the Florida Farm Fresh
   31  Schools Program within the Department of Agriculture and
   32  Consumer Services as the lead agency for the program. The
   33  program shall:
   34         (a) Require the department to work with the Department of
   35  Education to recommend policies and rules to the State Board of
   36  Education pertaining to school food services which:
   37         1. Encourage the patronization of products from farmers in
   38  this state by requiring school districts and schools to buy
   39  fresh and high-quality foods grown in this state when feasible;
   40         2. Encourage and solicit farmers in this state to sell
   41  their products to school districts and schools in this state;
   42         3. Require school districts and schools to make reasonable
   43  efforts to select foods based on a preference for those that
   44  have maximum nutritional content; and
   45         4. Encourage school districts and schools to demonstrate a
   46  preference for competitively priced organic food products.
   47         (b) Require the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
   48  Services to provide outreach, guidance, and training to
   49  districts, schools, school food service directors, parent and
   50  teacher organizations, and students about the benefits of fresh
   51  food products from farms in this state.
   52         (c) Exempt fresh fruits and vegetables purchased as a
   53  result of the Florida Farm Fresh Schools Program from the
   54  Category Two bid limit of $25,000 in s. 287.057.
   55         (d) Maintain compliance with the rules and regulations of
   56  the National School Lunch Program.
   57         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.