SB 649

This bill creates a farm to fork program, similar to the existing farm to school

program, to connect entities that are not school districts and that have cafeterias to

nearby farms to provide locally produced foods in meals and snacks, to help the public

develop healthy eating habits, to provide nutritional and agricultural education, and

to improve farmers' incomes and direct access to markets. Under the bill, the

Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection must provide grants to

entities for these purposes.

The bill also provides funding for DATCP to award grants for creating and

expanding farm to school programs and requires that in awarding grants under the

farm to school programs, DATCP must give preference to school districts that have

a high percentage of students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals under

federal law. Current law requires DATCP to promote farm to school programs, which

connect schools with nearby farms to provide children with locally produced foods in

school meals, and DATCP must give preference in awarding farm to school grants to

innovative proposals or to proposals that provide models for other school districts.

The bill also provides additional funding for 1) special education aid the

Department of Public Instruction pays to school districts, independent charter

schools, cooperative educational service agencies, and county children with

disabilities education boards; 2) the University of Wisconsin System under its

general program operations appropriation; and 3) state aid to technical colleges.