LRB-5005/1
KP:ekg&klm
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
October 29, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Considine, Neubauer, Shelton,
Conley, Emerson, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hong, B. Meyers, Ohnstad, Pope,
Shankland, Spreitzer, Stubbs, Subeck and Vruwink, cosponsored by
Senators Pfaff, Smith, Agard, Bewley, Erpenbach, Johnson, Larson,
Ringhand, Roys and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Agriculture.
AB663,1,4
1An Act to renumber and amend 93.49 (3) (a); and
to create 20.115 (4) (aw),
293.49 (3) (a) 1. and 93.495 of the statutes;
relating to: farm to fork grants, farm
3to school grants, granting rule-making authority, and making an
4appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
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.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB663,1
1Section
1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
2the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
-
See PDF for table 
AB663,2
3Section
2. 20.115 (4) (aw) of the statutes is created to read:
AB663,2,54
20.115
(4) (aw)
Farm to fork program. The amounts in the schedule for the farm
5to fork program under s. 93.495.
AB663,3
6Section
3. 93.49 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 93.49 (3) (a) (intro.) and
7amended to read:
AB663,2,128
93.49
(3) (a) (intro.) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (as), the
9department shall provide grants to school districts, in coordination with the
10department of public instruction, and to nonprofit organizations, farmers, and any
11other entities for the creation and expansion of farm to school programs. The
12department shall give preference to
the following types of proposals
:
AB663,2,14
132. Proposals that are innovative or that provide models that other school
14districts can adopt.
AB663,4
1Section
4. 93.49 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is created to read:
AB663,3,42
93.49
(3) (a) 1. Proposals from school districts in which a high percentage of
3pupils satisfy the income eligibility criteria under
42 USC 1758 (b) (1) for a free or
4reduced-price meal.
AB663,5
5Section
5. 93.495 of the statutes is created to read:
AB663,3,6
693.495 Farm to fork program. (1)
Definitions. In this section:
AB663,3,127
(a) “Farm to fork program” means a program to connect entities that are not
8school districts and that have cafeterias to nearby farms to provide locally produced
9fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and other nutritious, locally produced
10foods in meals and snacks; to help the public develop healthy eating habits; to provide
11nutritional and agricultural education; and to improve farmers' incomes and direct
12access to markets.
AB663,3,1413
(b) “Value-added agricultural product” means a farm product that satisfies any
14of the following:
AB663,3,1515
1. The product has undergone a change in physical state.
AB663,3,1616
2. The product is produced in a manner that enhances its value.
AB663,3,1717
3. The product is physically segregated in a manner that enhances its value.
AB663,3,1818
4. The product is a source of farm-based or ranch-based renewable energy.
AB663,3,1919
5. The product is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced farm product.
AB663,3,24
20(2) Grants. (a) The department may award grants from the appropriation
21under s. 20.115 (4) (aw) to businesses, universities, hospitals, and other entities that
22are not school districts and that have cafeterias for the creation and expansion of
23farm to fork programs. The department shall give preference to proposals that are
24innovative or that provide models that other entities can adopt.
AB663,4,4
1(b) In awarding grants under this section, the department shall promote
2agricultural development and farm profitability by supporting the development and
3adoption of practices and agribusiness opportunities that involve the production of
4value-added agricultural products.
AB663,4,65
(c) The department may award grants under this subsection for projects that
6do any of the following:
AB663,4,97
1. Create, expand, diversify, or promote production, processing, marketing, and
8distribution of food produced in this state for sale to entities in this state other than
9school districts.
AB663,4,1210
2. Create, expand, or renovate facilities, including purchases of equipment for
11the facilities, that would ensure the use of food produced in this state in locations in
12this state other than schools.
AB663,4,1413
3. Provide, expand, or promote training for food service personnel, farmers, and
14distributors.
AB663,4,1515
4. Provide, expand, or promote nutritional and agricultural education.
AB663,4,1716
(d) The department shall consult with interested persons to establish grant
17priorities for each fiscal year.
AB663,4,20
18(3) Reports. At least annually, the department shall report to the legislature
19under s. 13.172 (2) and to the secretary on the needs and opportunities for farm to
20fork programs.
AB663,4,21
21(4) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.
AB663,6
22Section
6.
Nonstatutory provisions.
AB663,5,223
(1)
Farm to fork program. The authorized FTE positions for the department
24of agriculture, trade and consumer protection are increased by 1.0 GPR positions, to
1be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (aw), for the purpose of
2administering the farm to fork program.
AB663,7
3Section
7.
Fiscal changes.
AB663,5,84
(1)
Farm to school grants. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the
5appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection
6under s. 20.115 (4) (as), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2021-22 is increased by
7$200,000 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2022-23 is increased by $200,000 for
8the purpose for which the appropriation is made.
AB663,5,149
(2)
Special education aid. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the
10appropriation to the department of public instruction under s. 20.255 (2) (b), the
11dollar amount for fiscal year 2021-22 is increased by $296,000 to increase funding
12for aids for special education under s. 115.88 and the dollar amount for fiscal year
132022-23 is increased by $308,000 to increase funding for aids for special education
14under s. 115.88.
AB663,5,1915
(3)
UW System. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the
16Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System under s. 20.285 (1) (a), the
17dollar amount for fiscal year 2021-22 is increased by $61,000 for the purpose for
18which the appropriation is made and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2022-23 is
19increased by $63,000 for the purpose for which the appropriation is made.
AB663,5,2420
(4)
State aids for technical colleges. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for
21the appropriation to the technical college system board under s. 20.292 (1) (d), the
22dollar amount for fiscal year 2021-22 is increased by $13,000 and the dollar amount
23for fiscal year 2022-23 is increased by $14,000 for the purpose for which the
24appropriation is made.
