A bill championed by Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam that would shift control of school nutrition programs from the Department of Education to his department got unanimous approval in the House State Affairs Committee on Thursday.
The committee bill (SAC 11-01) allows the agriculture department to consolidate all nutrition programs under one roof.
The Senate version was approved in the Agriculture Committee earlier this week and has only one more committee stop.
One State Board of Education member expressed his skepticism of this proposed change earlier this month, saying the agriculture department’s primary focus was the agriculture industry, not children. But the measure has gained widespread approval in both chambers, with many Democrats speaking in favor of Putnam’s efforts to focus on health and nutrition issues.’
The News Service of Florida
