Senate Bill S1463A

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1463--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 9, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Education  --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to  authorize  the  commissioner  of agriculture and markets to
   create an annual award to recognize school staff involved in  a  farm-
   to-school program or school garden
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The commissioner  of  agriculture  and  markets  is  hereby
 authorized  and  directed  to create an award to be presented every year
 hereafter in recognition of school staff that collectively developed  an
 exceptional  farm-to-school  program  or school garden at their place of
 employment.   The commissioner  of  agriculture  and  markets  shall  be
 authorized  to  provide  funds for this award only to the extent that an
 appropriation is available for this act's specific purpose.
   § 2. (a) Candidates can be  nominated  by  their  school's  principal,
 their  peers,  or community members. The commissioner of agriculture and
 markets is instructed to seek candidates with  at  least  the  qualities
 prescribed  in  this  section, though additional criteria not prescribed
 here may be used when  evaluating  candidates.  With  respect  to  their
 school's farm-to-school program or school garden candidates should:
   (i) demonstrate excellence in the field, guiding students of all back-
 grounds and abilities to achieve excellence;
   (ii)  consistently  demonstrate  a positive impact on student achieve-
 ment;
   (iii) collaborate with colleagues, students, and families to create  a
 school culture of respect and success;
   (iv)  demonstrate  leadership  and  innovation  in  and outside of the
 classroom walls that embodies lifelong learning; and
   (v) express themselves in an engaging and articulate way.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD07035-06-7

 S. 1463--A                          2
 
   (b) For each quality  listed  in  subdivision  (a)  of  this  section,
 specific  examples and data shall be provided on behalf of each group of
 candidates. However, primarily  quantitative  responses  should  not  be
 favored   where   quantitative  data  obscures  qualitative  information
 concerning student experiences. Special consideration should be given to
 those  candidates that integrate local or regional agricultural products
 of any kind in to the classroom, cafeteria, and curriculum, or that have
 founded school gardens or mini-farms.
   § 3. Awards shall consist of a credit covering any  tuition  and  fees
 incurred  subsequent  to  an awardee's enrollment in any part of SUNY or
 CUNY, if such enrollment occurs. This  credit  will  be  capped  at  the
 tuition and fees associated with a maximum of six credit hours.
   §  4.  Awards  shall  be given each year at the New York state fair in
 consultation with the state fair's agriculture department, the  director
 of  the  state  fair  and the commissioner of education.  The first such
 award will be granted in the year following the year of enactment.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.