00                              HOUSE BILL NO. 93                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to school gardens, greenhouses, and farms."                                                            
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. AS 14.30.375(a) is amended to read:                                                                   
04            (a)  A school district may authorize a nonprofit corporation to operate or                               
05       may operate a school garden, greenhouse, or farm. A nonprofit corporation                                 
06       authorized under this section must contribute to the operation of each school                                 
07       garden, greenhouse, or farm matching funds in an amount that is equal to or                                   
08       greater than one-half percent of the state aid received by the school district under                          
09       AS 14.17.400 for the school each year. The garden, greenhouse, or farm must be                                
10       used for educational purposes and for growing fruits and vegetables for consumption                               
11       by the students through the school district's meal and snack program.                                             
12    * Sec. 2. AS 14.30.375(b) is amended to read:                                                                      
13            (b)  If a school district authorizes or operates a school garden, greenhouse, or                         
14       farm, the district or the authorized nonprofit corporation shall give students                                
15       representing student organizations, including vocational programs, the opportunity to                             
01       be involved in the operation of the school garden, greenhouse, or farm.                                           
02    * Sec. 3. AS 14.30.375(d) is amended to read:                                                                      
03            (d)  If a school district authorizes or operates a school garden, greenhouse, or                         
04       farm, the excess fruit and vegetables may be sold.                                                                
05    * Sec. 4. AS 14.30.375 is amended by adding new subsections to read:                                               
06            (e)  If a school district authorizes a nonprofit corporation to operate a school                             
07       garden, greenhouse or farm under this section, the school district shall apply for a                              
08       grant under AS 14.30.377 to provide funds to the nonprofit corporation for the                                    
09       operation of each school garden, greenhouse, or farm.                                                             
10            (f)  In this section, "nonprofit corporation" means a corporation that qualifies                             
11       for exemption from taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(c) (Internal Revenue Code).                                       
12    * Sec. 5. AS 14.30 is amended by adding a new section to article 7 to read:                                        
13            Sec. 14.30.377. State grant for operation of a school garden, greenhouse,                                  
14       or farm. (a) A school district may apply to the department on a form approved by the                            
15       department for a state grant for the operation of one or more school gardens,                                     
16       greenhouses, or farms under AS 14.30.375.                                                                         
17            (b)  The department shall award a grant to a school district in an amount that is                            
18       not less than one-half percent of the state aid received by the district under                                    
19       AS 14.17.400 for each school at which a garden, greenhouse, or farm will be operated                              
20       each year.                                                                                                        
21            (c)  A school district is eligible to receive a grant under this section if the                              
22       district provides proof satisfactory to the department that a school or an approved                               
23       nonprofit entity provides matching funds in an amount that is equal to or greater than                            
24       the grant amount.                                                                                                 
25            (d)  The department may adopt regulations necessary to implement this                                        
26       section.