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| Public Act 096-0153 |
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AN ACT concerning public health.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Farm | ||||
Fresh Schools Program Act. | ||||
Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds all of the | ||||
following: | ||||
(1) According to the Centers for Disease Control and | ||||
Prevention, less than 20% of young people eat the | ||||
recommended 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables | ||||
each day. A recent study in the New England Journal of | ||||
Medicine finds that, unless reversed, in the next 50 years | ||||
obesity will shorten life expectancy in the United States | ||||
by 2 to 5 years, exceeding the impact of cancer or heart | ||||
disease. Studies by the Yale University School of Public | ||||
Health have found that, due to obesity and related | ||||
diseases, the current generation of young people may be the | ||||
first in American history whose life expectancy is | ||||
projected to be less than that of their parents. | ||||
(2) Farm-to-school programs link schools with local | ||||
and regional farms in order to provide schools with fresh | ||||
and minimally processed farm commodities for inclusion in | ||||
school meals, vending machines, salad bars, and snacks. | ||||
These programs also help children develop nutritional | ||
awareness and healthy eating habits. | ||
(3) In addition to procuring farm fresh foods for | ||
school food offerings, farm-to-school programs often | ||
include activities that provide pupils with hands-on | ||
learning opportunities, such as farm visits, cooking | ||
demonstrations, and school gardening and composting | ||
programs, and integrate nutritional and agricultural | ||
education into school curricula. | ||
(4) It is in the interest of this State to promote | ||
farm-to-school programs that emphasize the purchase of | ||
farm fresh foods by schools in order to improve child | ||
nutrition and strengthen local and regional farm | ||
economies. | ||
Section 10. Farm Fresh Schools Program. The Department of | ||
Agriculture, in cooperation with the State Board of Education | ||
and the Department of Public Health, shall create the Farm | ||
Fresh Schools Program. The intent of the Program is to reduce | ||
obesity and improve nutrition and public health, as well as | ||
strengthen local agricultural economies by increasing access | ||
to and promoting the consumption of locally grown fruits and | ||
vegetables in schools and increasing physical activities and | ||
programs that promote pupil wellness. | ||
Section 15. Grants. | ||
(a) The Department of Agriculture and the State Board of | ||
Education shall jointly administer a process to review grant | ||
proposals and award grants on a competitive basis to eligible | ||
applicants to implement the Farm Fresh Schools Program. | ||
(b) The first 6 grants awarded pursuant to the Farm Fresh | ||
Schools Program shall be awarded in 6 different counties, | ||
including 3 urban counties and 3 rural counties with a | ||
significant agricultural economy.
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Section 20. Farm Fresh Schools Program Fund. The Farm Fresh | ||
Schools Program Fund is created as a special fund in the State | ||
treasury. Moneys in the Fund shall be used, subject to | ||
appropriation, by the Department of Agriculture and the State | ||
Board of Education for the purposes of this Act. | ||
Section 25. Rules. The Department of Agriculture, with the | ||
cooperation of the Department of Public Health and the State | ||
Board of Education, shall adopt rules for the implementation of | ||
this Act. | ||
Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding | ||
Section 5.719 as follows: | ||
(30 ILCS 105/5.719 new) | ||
Sec. 5.719. The Farm Fresh Schools Program Fund.
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