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The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AN ACT ESTABLISHING MASSACHUSETTS FARM-TO-SCHOOL MONTH AND COMMENDING FARM-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

     Whereas,  The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to forthwith set apart the month of October as Massachusetts Farm-to-School Month in recognition of the vital role agriculture plays in the culture, heritage and economy of the commonwealth, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.

     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 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 15AAAAAA the following section:-
     Section 15BBBBBB.  The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart the month of October as Massachusetts Farm-to-School Month in recognition of the vital role that agriculture plays in the culture, heritage and economy of the commonwealth.  The proclamation shall commend the farm-to-school programs that support improved nutrition and academic achievement among the student population and represent potential markets for local farmers, growers and food producers in schools and shall recommend that the month be observed in an appropriate manner by the people.
     SECTION 2.  The department of elementary and secondary education, the department of agricultural resources and the department of public health may initiate a joint taskforce, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Farm-to-School Project, LLC, to strategize regarding opportunities to expand farm-to-school programs statewide.

Approved, September 21, 2016