HB670 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thomas JacksonRepresentative

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Mike JonesKurt WallaceK.L. BrownElaine BeechAlan BootheRon JohnsonPhil WilliamsDuwayne BridgesBarry MaskJim BartonAlan BakerJoe FaustDickie DrakeVictor GastonSteve HurstLesley VanceDavid Sessions

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Farm to School Procurement Act, established, coordination effort between Department of Education and Department of Agriculture and Industries to provide local grown food to schools, certain purchases of food by local board exempt from competitive bid law, Sec. 16-13B-2 am'd

Summary

HB670 creates a Farm-To-School Procurement Act to coordinate local farm purchases for Alabama K-12 schools and allow small-purchase options for certain local foods, with a minority-producer participation goal.

What This Bill Does

It requires collaboration between the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture and Industries to develop farm-to-school procurement processes, share information with schools and farmers, and promote local sourcing for school meals. The Department of Education will study procurement options including small purchases, educate food service directors about the small-purchase threshold, train staff to prepare fresh local foods, and encourage including local farmers and suppliers in purchases under the threshold; it also urges new school construction to support fresh meals and hands-on learning. The Department of Agriculture and Industries will appoint a farm-to-school point person, maintain a web-based directory of Alabama farmers and suppliers, promote job creation, and ensure that at least 10% of local suppliers are minority producers. The law is amended to allow local boards of education to use small purchases for fresh unprocessed agricultural products up to $100,000, exempting these purchases from some competitive bidding requirements.

Who It Affects

• School districts and their food service directors, who will make local farm purchases under new procedures and receive training on small purchases.
• Local farmers, processors, and suppliers (including minority producers), who may gain access to school food programs and be listed in a state directory to facilitate procurement.

Key Provisions

• Establishs the Farm-To-School Procurement Act requiring collaboration between the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture and Industries (via memorandum of understanding).
• The Department of Education will explore procurement options, educate directors about small-purchase thresholds, train staff for fresh local foods, and encourage inclusion of local suppliers; it also promotes school construction considerations for fresh meals and hands-on learning.
• The Department of Agriculture and Industries will appoint a farm-to-school point person, identify local farmers and suppliers, disseminate information to schools, and create and maintain a searchable directory of Alabama farm products; it also aims to promote job creation and at least 10% minority-producer participation.
• Creates a web-based, regularly updated directory of local farmers and suppliers accessible to users by location.
• Minimum 10% of local farmers, processors, and suppliers used under this act must be minority producers.
• Allows local boards of education to purchase fresh unprocessed agricultural products up to $100,000 using small-purchase procedures, exempting these purchases from certain competitive bidding requirements.
• The act may seek and accept funds from federal, state, or private sources to implement its provisions.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education