SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1086 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 301
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Eric P. Lesser
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing farm to school grants to promote healthy eating and strengthen the agricultural economy.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
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Eric P. Lesser | First Hampden and Hampshire |
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Anne M. Gobi | Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
Diana DiZoglio | First Essex | 1/28/2019 |
Edward J. Kennedy | First Middlesex | 1/30/2019 |
William N. Brownsberger | Second Suffolk and Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
Adam G. Hinds | Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden | 1/30/2019 |
Dean A. Tran | Worcester and Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Brendan P. Crighton | Third Essex | 2/1/2019 |
Michael O. Moore | Second Worcester | 2/12/2019 |
Brian M. Ashe | 2nd Hampden | 1/29/2019 |
Bradford Hill | 4th Essex | 1/30/2019 |
José F. Tosado | 9th Hampden | 1/30/2019 |
Julian Cyr | Cape and Islands | 2/13/2019 |
Joanne M. Comerford | Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester | 2/13/2019 |
Nick Collins | First Suffolk | 10/29/2019 |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1086 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 301
By Mr. Lesser, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 301) of Eric P. Lesser, Anne M. Gobi, Diana DiZoglio, Edward J. Kennedy and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish farm to school grants to promote healthy eating and strengthen the agricultural economy. Education. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act establishing farm to school grants to promote healthy eating and strengthen the agricultural economy.
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. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, at the end thereof, the following section:-
Section 37. (a) The department shall operate a competitive grant program called the Massachusetts Farm to School Grant Program with the purpose of strengthening the Massachusetts food economy and improving student health and nutrition. The purpose of the program is to build the capacity of primary and secondary public schools to purchase ingredients grown and produced in Massachusetts, prepare scratch-cooked meals and educate students about the food system.
(b) To be eligible for grant funding the department shall require that applicants: (1) be a public school located in the commonwealth; (2) have not less than forty percent of students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federally-funded school meals program; and (3) include with their application a letter of agreement with a Massachusetts farmer, fisherman, or distributor of Massachusetts farm or seafood products that indicates an existing or anticipated relationship for procuring food, and an estimated annual dollar value of those purchases.
(c) The program shall provide, subject to appropriation, funding for the following priorities, in order of importance: (1) adequate kitchen equipment used to prepare food for serving in school meals and snacks including but not limited to local, fresh produce, meats, seafood, and dairy items; (2) training school kitchen staff in preparing fresh meals using local ingredients and in procuring such ingredients, and for training educators and other school staff in adding or integrating food system lessons to their curriculum; and (3) infrastructure and programming for curricular and extracurricular activities for students to learn about agriculture and the food system.
(d) Up to fifteen percent of the funds in each grant may be used for the purchase of foods raised, grown or produced in Massachusetts, provided that preparation and consumption of these foods relates to the primary grant activity or expenditure.
(e) The department shall promulgate regulations or guidelines to implement the program established pursuant to section 37A of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in section 1 above.