CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 70(FIN)                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing the farm-to-school program in the                                                                     
     Department of Natural Resources, and relating to                                                                           
     school gardens, greenhouses, and farms."                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARL  GATTO, testified  to the intent  of the                                                                    
legislation which  is to set  up an organization  within the                                                                    
Department of Agriculture to encourage  schools to buy local                                                                    
products and  grow agricultural products. It  also addresses                                                                    
the   issue  of   obesity.  The   bill   has  been   reduced                                                                    
significantly in order to lessen the fiscal note.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
THOMAS  REIKER, STUDENT  INTERN, REPRESENTATIVE  CARL GATTO,                                                                    
urged support  for the bill.  He believed that the  bill was                                                                    
good  for the  state.  He said  that  the legislation  could                                                                    
improve the  health and wellbeing  of Alaska's  students and                                                                    
would create a new job market.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Hoffman  asked   if  students   should  be   also                                                                    
encouraged to eat Alaska salmon.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Gatto  spoke of  an attempted trade  of goods                                                                    
with the state of Washington.  The shipping proved to be too                                                                    
expensive.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:00:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman pointed out the  fiscal notes and solicited                                                                    
final comments.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  MOVED to  report  CSHB  70 (FIN)  out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal  notes. There being no  OBJECTION it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 70 (FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do                                                                          
pass" recommendation and two previously published fiscal                                                                        
notes: zero FN 3 EED and FN 4 DNR.