S*0191(Rat #0047, Act #0040 of 2013)  General Bill, By Verdin, Sheheen, Lourie, 
Cromer, O'Dell, Hutto, Jackson, Alexander and McElveen
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 46-3-25 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN
 A PROGRAM TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOUTH CAROLINA FARMS, SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH FRESH AND MINIMALLY
 PROCESSED FOODS FOR CONSUMPTION BY STUDENTS. - ratified title

   01/09/13  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 3)
   01/09/13  Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
                     Resources (Senate Journal-page 3)
   04/25/13  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture and Natural Resources
                     (Senate Journal-page 12)
   04/26/13         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/30/13  Senate Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate Journal-page 38)
   04/30/13  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 38)
   04/30/13  Senate Roll call Ayes-34  Nays-7 (Senate Journal-page 38)
   05/01/13  Senate Read third time and sent to House
                     (Senate Journal-page 69)
   05/02/13  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 16)
   05/02/13  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
                     (House Journal-page 16)
   05/21/13  House  Recalled from Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
                     (House Journal-page 49)
   05/23/13  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 20)
   05/23/13  House  Roll call Yeas-105  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 20)
   05/23/13  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (House Journal-page 22)
   05/24/13  House  Read third time and enrolled (House Journal-page 2)
   06/04/13         Ratified R 47
   06/07/13         Signed By Governor
   06/18/13         Effective date 06/07/13
   06/18/13         Act No. 40

(A40, R47, S191)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 46-3-25 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A PROGRAM TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOUTH CAROLINA FARMS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH FRESH AND MINIMALLY PROCESSED FOODS FOR CONSUMPTION BY STUDENTS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Findings

SECTION    1.    The General Assembly finds:

(A)    A voluntary program to link local farms to school districts and other institutions to provide students and adults with fresh and minimally processed farm foods for use in their daily meals and snacks will:

(1)    strengthen local economies by keeping money within the area;

(2)    create jobs;

(3)    open a substantial new market for farmers;

(4)    provide beginning farmers with a consistent and secure customer base;

(5)    help students develop lifelong healthy eating habits and reduce obesity-related diseases in South Carolina;

(6)    provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, such as farm visits, cooking demonstrations, and the planting and cultivating of school gardens; and

(7)    encourage the integration of nutritional and agricultural education into programs of study.

(B)    A successful South Carolina Fresh on the Campus program requires the expertise and collaboration of numerous state agencies, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Environmental Control, and Clemson University.

Fresh and minimally processed foods program

SECTION    2.    Chapter 3, Title 46 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 46-3-25.    (A)    There is created a program within the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to foster relationships between South Carolina farms, school districts, and other institutions and to provide them with fresh and minimally processed foods for consumption by students.

(B)    The program must:

(1)    identify and promote local farms to food service programs and offer them information concerning actions and strategies to implement the program;

(2)    establish a partnership with public and nonprofit resources to implement a public engagement campaign and establish a structure to facilitate communication between school districts, institutions, farmers, and produce distributors;

(3)    encourage food service personnel to develop and implement school nutrition plans which purchase and use locally grown farm fresh products;

(4)    offer assistance and outreach to school districts that choose to participate in the voluntary program. Assistance and outreach may include, but is not limited to, conducting workshops and training sessions, providing technical assistance regarding the availability of South Carolina farm products, and promoting the benefits of purchasing and consuming fresh food products from this State. School districts that choose to participate in the voluntary program are not required to participate or otherwise accept assistance or outreach; and

(5)    regularly consult with the staff of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, the State Department of Education, Clemson University, and other state agencies concerning implementation of the program.

(C)    The Department of Agriculture may seek grants and private funding for the program. This subsection may not be interpreted to explicitly or implicitly require any other state agency or department to participate or join the department in any grant applications or private funding efforts.

(D)    The Department of Agriculture must establish a website for the program."

Regulations

SECTION    3.    Regulations may not be promulgated pursuant to this act.

Repeal

SECTION    4.    The provisions contained in this act are repealed July 1, 2018, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly.

Time effective

SECTION    5.    This act takes effect upon approval of the Governor.

Ratified the 4th day of June, 2013.

Approved the 7th day of June, 2013.