Responsibility for school lunch programs would be transferred from the Department of Education to the Department of Agriculture under a bill approved by a Senate panel on Tuesday that backers say will improve nutrition for hundreds of thousands of public school students.
By unanimous vote, the Senate Rules Committee approved a measure (SB 1312) pushed by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who lauded the panel of its efforts.
“I am excited that this important piece of legislation will now be heading to the floor for a vote by the entire Florida Senate,” Putnam said in response to the bill’s passage.
Putnam has argued that his department was uniquely positioned to coordinate foods produced by Florida farmers and school nutrition programs.
A House version (HB 7129) is awaiting action in the House Appropriations Committee, a fact that may make it more difficult to pass.
A memorandum from House Speaker Dean Cannon released Tuesday said bills that had not gone through all referenced committees would not be considered on the floor during the session’s final weeks. The current legislative session is due to end on May 6.
