FILED ON: 6/3/2016

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4409

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act relative to healthy eating in school cafeterias.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The Massachusetts School Building Authority, referred to in this section as the Authority, in collaboration with the department of elementary and secondary education, shall, subject to appropriation, develop a 3-year pilot program for up to 1 school per calendar year for public elementary and secondary schools with the purpose of updating school kitchens for fresh food preparation and storage.

Eligible schools electing to participate in the pilot program shall notify the Authority through an application procedure established by the Authority, on or before January 31 of each calendar year during the pilot program.

After the initial application, the Authority may determine the best candidates for the pilot program using the following criteria:

(i) the scope of renovations needed to fully update the kitchen to prepare fresh food;

(ii) the school’s capacity to implement such measures;

(iii) the school’s plans on how best to use a newly renovated space with the additional features to allow for fresh food preparation; and

(iv) any additional criteria as established by the Authority.

Schools electing to participate shall be eligible for financial support of up to 70 per cent of the cost for updating the kitchen, as determined by the Authority, using criteria established pursuant to this section.

The Authority shall develop guidelines for a quarterly review of the progress being made by each pilot school kitchen. Strategies shall be researched to fully utilize the kitchens space to prepare and store fresh and nutritious food for students.

The participating schools shall prepare and submit an annual report during each year renovation is taking place and 3 years thereafter analyzing the implementation and efficacy of the pilot program to determine evidence-based standards for school kitchens to adhere to across school districts in the commonwealth. The schools shall submit such annual report to the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means on or before September 1 of each year such report is required.

SECTION 2: (a) The department of agricultural resources, in conjunction with the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of public health, shall, subject to appropriation, develop a 4-year pilot program to create a farm-to-school community challenge. The goals of the farm-to-school pilot program will be to promote locally grown food as well as nutritious school meals with the purpose of providing evidence that communities gain positive changes in the eating habits of children and adolescents, improve access to local foods in eligible schools, increase the supply of fresh, locally grown farm products served for meals and snacks in in public elementary and secondary schools, and incorporate better education and engagement around healthy food choices. 

(b) The pilot program shall, subject to appropriation, include a farm-to-school grant program. The program shall be administered by the department of agricultural resources and shall have the following purposes:-

(i) to improve the health and nutrition of school children and adolescents in the commonwealth by increasing their consumption of fresh farm commodities, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts, as appropriate;

(ii) to conduct a needs assessment and menu audit to determine the next steps to create a farm-to-school plan;

(iii) to increase opportunities for farmers in the commonwealth to market directly to local schools and school districts;

(iv) to provide information and technical assistance to schools and school districts, food service personnel, farmers, and produce distributors and processors regarding the demand for and the availability of farm products in the commonwealth, with an emphasis on locally and regionally grown products;

(v) to identify and reduce barriers in order to successfully implement farm-to-school programs;

(vi) to promote successful models and strategies for local farm-to-school programs to school districts, food service personnel, farmers, distributors, and processors;

(vii) to identify local food vendors and products that can be obtained by the participating school and introduced into the school menu;

(viii) to provide school districts with the opportunity to develop a long-term strategy that supports locally sourced products, interactive menu planning, and an educational framework to provide increased learning opportunities to students in order for them to make informed and healthier food choices;

(ix) to provide a framework for sustained state funding for school districts who voluntarily participate in the farm-to-school program; and

(x) to provide for accountability to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the farm-to-school program in participating schools.

(c)  Any school participating in the pilot program, including the grant program, shall adhere to the following requirements:-

(i) schools selected to participate in the pilot program shall keep records of the fruits, vegetables, or other foods received under the pilot program in such manner and form as requested by the commissioner of agricultural resources;

(ii) each participant shall submit to the commissioner of agricultural resources a report on the success of the pilot project including information on: (a) the quantity and cost of each type of fruit, vegetable, or other food received under the pilot project; and (b) the benefit provided by those procurements in conducting school food service in the school, including meeting school meal requirements;

(iii) a record of each vendor used; 

(iv) a record of menu changes that were affected by the fresh food procurement and the pilot program;

(v) changes to the wellness policy that occurred as a direct effect of the changes in fresh food availability at the participating school; and

(vi) any additional requirements promulgated by the department of agricultural resources.

(d) The participating schools shall prepare and submit an annual report analyzing the implementation of the pilot program to determine evidence-based standards for schools to adhere to across the commonwealth. The schools shall submit such annual report to the department of elementary and secondary education, the department of public health, and the department of agricultural resources on or before September 1 of each pilot year.

(e) (1) The department of elementary and secondary education, the department of agricultural resources, and the department of public health shall, subject to appropriation, collaborate with each other to establish a farm-to-school interagency task force to coordinate and advance the work of the pilot program. The task force shall consist of 13 members to be appointed by the governor: 2 of whom shall be nominated by the commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education, 2 of whom shall be nominated by the commissioner of agricultural resources, 2 of whom shall be nominated by the commissioner of public health, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a school district, 1 of whom shall be a representative from the food service industry, 1 of whom shall be a farmer in the commonwealth, 1 of whom shall be a food distributor in the commonwealth, 1 of whom shall be a food processor in the commonwealth, 1 of whom shall be a representative from an agricultural organization with a level of expertise in farm-to-school programs, and 1 of whom shall be a representative from a nonprofit organization with expertise in community food security.

(2) The task force shall:

(i) identify and promote the critical components of individual farm-to-school programs and advise the department of agricultural resources on needed actions and effective strategies to implement the program; and

(ii) consider all of the following issues, in addition to any others it deems necessary:

(A) packing and grading standards;

(B) food safety;

(C) ensuring timely payments to farmers participating in farm-to-school programs;

(D) informing schools of the availability of farm products;

(E) the adequacy of staffing, storage, and preparation equipment necessary to operate a farm-to-school program; and

(F) promoting curriculum that links farm-to-school program activities to existing state academic content standards.