HB 944 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for agricultural education and providing for Commission for Agricultural Education Excellence.

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1767 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

1967 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

MILLER, NEUMAN, O'BRIEN, PASHINSKI, PETRARCA, PICKETT, SANKEY, SAYLOR, SNYDER, SOLOMON, TALLMAN, TOBASH, TOEPEL, WARD,WARD ZIMMERMAN AND WENTLING,ZIMMERMAN, MAY 19, 2017 ASREFERRED REPORTEDTO FROM COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, HOUSEMAY OF19, REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 12, 2017 AN ACT Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools;

(3) Identify, recognize and establish, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, awards for exemplary agricultural 20170HB0944PN196720170HB0944PN1767 - 2 - education curricula developed in Commonwealth schools.

(2) When consulting with a cross section of the agriculture and education communities, the secretary shall consider seeking comments from individuals named in lists submitted by the State Council on Farm Organizations, the Agricultural Awareness 20170HB0944PN196720170HB0944PN1767 - 3 - Foundation and the Pennsylvania Vocational-Agricultural Teachers Association.

["Farmer." Any person who engages in the accepted activities, practices and procedures year after year to produce and prepare for market poultry, livestock and their products or in the production and harvesting of agricultural, agronomic, horticultural, silvicultural and aquacultural crops and commodities and whose operation is conducted on not less than 20170HB0944PN196720170HB0944PN1767 - 4 - ten contiguous acres in area or, if less than ten contiguous acres in area, has an anticipated yearly gross income of at least ten thousand dollars ($10,000).] "School entity." A public school district, intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school.

(d) In order for the commission to fulfill its duties and exercise its authority under this section, an agreement shall be executed between the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education and the commission, which shall define and delineate the role and responsibility of each agency in assisting the commission in fulfilling its duties under this 20170HB0944PN196720170HB0944PN1767 - 5 - section.

(vii) An administrator of a school entity which conducts an 20170HB0944PN196720170HB0944PN1767 - 6 - agricultural education program.

(2) Assist school entities in securing articulation 20170HB0944PN196720170HB0944PN1767 - 7 - agreements with postsecondary institutions of higher education.

(3) Provide support and technical assistance to supervised agricultural experience programs based on industry STUDENT <-- needs.

(4) Provide support and coordination for Statewide and local activities related to Future Farmers of America FFA programs.

<-- (5) Investigate, review and issue an annual report on the status of agricultural education required under subsection (m).

(2) Assess the trends and needs in secondary and BOTH FORMAL <-- AND INFORMAL postsecondary agricultural education and training.

(3) Investigate agricultural AND ASSESS work force trends <-- and assess training needs for individuals not pursuing formal <-- postsecondary educationeducation. OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD INDUSTRY.

<-- (4) ASSESSConsider ANDthe MAKEmanner PROGRAMMINGin RECOMMENDATIONSwhich FORfunds MEETINGare <--used THEto TRAININGsupport NEEDSagricultural FOReducation INDIVIDUALSactivities. NOT PURSUING FORMAL POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.

(4) (5) ConsiderHighlight thenew mannerinitiatives inand whichrecommend fundsfuture areprogram usedneeds. to <-- support agricultural education activities.

(5) (6) HighlightMake newrecommendations initiativesto the Governor and recommendthe futureGeneral <--Assembly programregarding needs.legislative or regulatory changes to improve agricultural education.

(6)(n) (7)The MakeDepartment recommendationsof toAgriculture the Governor and the GeneralDepartment <--of AssemblyEducation regardingshall legislativeprovide orstaff regulatoryto changesassist tothe improvecommission agriculturalwith education.its duties.

(n) The Department of Agriculture and the Department of 20170HB0944PN1967Education -shall, 8at -a Educationminimum, shall provide the following staff towho assistmay thebe commissionemployed witheither itsfull-time duties.or part-time or may be assigned 20170HB0944PN1767 - 8 - to other duties within either agency:

The(1) DepartmentAn ofexecutive Agriculturedirector andwho theshall Departmentoversee ofall Educationelementary shall,and atsecondary aagricultural minimum,education provideactivities thein followingthis staffCommonwealth whoand mayserve beas employedthe eitherdirector full-timeof oroutreach part-timefor orthe maycommission. be assigned to other duties within either agency:

(1) An executive director who shall oversee all elementary and secondary, POSTSECONDARY AND ADULT agricultural education <-- activities in this Commonwealth and serve as the director of outreach for the commission.

(4) A Future Farmers of America AN FFA program specialist to <-- oversee State-related Future Farmers of America FFA activities <-- and implement initiatives for local agricultural education program success.

(5) A work force development specialist to manage supervised <-- agricultural experience programs and facilitate interagency efforts to identify career pathways in THE agricultural ANDindustries. FOOD <-- industries AND PROMOTE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD CAREERS AMONG <-- STUDENTS AND ADULT JOB SEEKERS.

(o) The Department of Education and the Department of 20170HB0944PN1967 - 9 - Agriculture shall use funds appropriated by the General Assembly to the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture for general government operations to pay for costs incurred for the implementation of this section.

The Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture may use funds appropriated by the General Assembly for the purposes of this section and may 20170HB0944PN1767 - 9 - accept donations from all public and private sources, including the Federal Government, to pay for costs incurred for the implementation of this section.

"Farmer." Any person who engages in the accepted activities, <-- practices and procedures year after year to produce and prepare <-- for market poultry, livestock and their products or in the production and harvesting of agricultural, agronomic, horticultural, silvicultural and aquacultural crops and commodities and whose operation is conducted on not less than ten contiguous acres in area or, if less than ten contiguous acres in area, has an anticipated yearly gross income of at least ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

"Future Farmers of AmericaAmerica." FFA." A career and technical <-- student organization that encourages leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

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