1. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Farm-to-School Act".
2. 2. There is hereby created within the department of agriculture the "Farm-to-School Program" to connect Missouri farmers and schools in order to provide schools with locally grown agricultural products for inclusion in school meals and snacks and to strengthen local farming economies. The department shall designate an employee to administer and monitor the farm-to-school program and to serve as liaison between Missouri farmers and schools.

3. 3. The following agencies shall make staff available to the Missouri farm-to-school program for the purpose of providing professional consultation and staff support to assist the implementation of this section:

   1. (1) The department of health and senior services;
   2. (2) The department of elementary and secondary education; and
   3. (3) The office of administration.

4. 4. The duties of the department employee coordinating the farm-to-school program shall include, but not be limited to:

   1. (1) Establishing and maintaining a website database to allow farmers and schools to connect whereby farmers can enter the locally grown agricultural products they produce along with pricing information, the times such products are available, and where they are willing to distribute such products;
   2. (2) Providing leadership at the state level to encourage schools to procure and use locally grown agricultural products;
   3. (3) Conducting workshops and training sessions and providing technical assistance to school food service directors, personnel, farmers, and produce distributors and processors regarding the farm-to-school program; and
   4. (4) Seeking grants, private donations, or other funding sources to support the farm-to-school program.

(L. 2014 S.B. 672 merged with S.B. 701)