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95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008 HB5949
Introduced , by Rep. Sandy Cole - Elizabeth Coulson SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: |
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New Act |
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30 ILCS 105/5.708 new |
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Creates the Farm Fresh Schools Program Act. Sets forth the findings of the General Assembly. Provides that the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Department of Public Health shall create the Farm Fresh Schools Program. Provides that 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. Provides that the Department of Agriculture and the Illinois 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 Program. Creates the Farm Fresh Schools Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.
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| FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY | |
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A BILL FOR
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HB5949 |
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LRB095 18431 KBJ 44517 b |
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| AN ACT concerning 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 |
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| Fresh Schools Program Act. |
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| Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds all of the |
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| following: |
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| (a) According to the Centers for Disease Control and |
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| Prevention, less than 20% of young people eat the recommended 5 |
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| or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. A recent |
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| study in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that, unless |
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| reversed, in the next 50 years obesity will shorten life |
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| expectancy in the United States by 2 to 5 years, exceeding the |
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| impact of cancer or heart disease. Studies by the Yale |
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| University School of Public Health have found that, due to |
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| obesity and related diseases, the current generation of young |
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| people may be the first in American history whose life |
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| expectancy is projected to be less than that of their parents. |
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| (b) Farm-to-school programs link schools with local and |
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| regional farms in order to provide schools with fresh and |
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| minimally processed farm commodities for inclusion in school |
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| meals, vending machines, salad bars, and snacks. These programs |
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| also help children develop nutritional awareness and healthy |