Public Act 096-0153
 
HB0078 Enrolled LRB096 02969 RPM 12983 b

    AN ACT concerning public health.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    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.
 
    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.