S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1904--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 11, 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 students 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 at the state fair in recognition of student body  that,  as  a
 group,  contributed to the success of a farm-to-school program or school
 garden at their school. 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  or
 teachers.  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 evaluat-
 ing candidates. With respect to their school's farm-to-school program or
 school garden candidates should;
   (i) demonstrate commitment and leadership;
   (ii)  progressively  inspire  a  greater  proportion of their school's
 student body to become involved;
   (iii) collaborate with colleagues, students, and their community; and
   (iv) create a meaningful and functional program for their school.
   (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

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD07033-05-7

 S. 1904--A                          2
 
 concerning the students' experiences. Applications must demonstrate that
 the relevant program or garden was primarily driven  by  the  creativity
 and initiative of the student body participating in the program. Special
 consideration  should  be given to those candidates that integrate local
 or regional agricultural products of any kind in to the classroom, cafe-
 teria, and curriculum, or that have  founded  school  gardens  or  mini-
 farms.
   §  3.  Awards  shall  consist  of a credit against any fees or tuition
 charged during an awardee's first semester of enrollment in any part  of
 SUNY  or  CUNY, if such enrollment occurs, given in equal dollar amounts
 to each student individually named in the nomination documentation.
   § 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.