House Bill No. 6580
Special Act No. 21-27
AN ACT CONCERNING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) The University of Connecticut
shall study the feasibility of establishing or expanding programs of
study and community outreach programs related to food and
agricultural literacy by increasing opportunities for interactions with
farms in rural, suburban and urban communities. Such study shall
include, but need not be limited to, an examination of the feasibility of
(1) developing certificate, degree or extension programs or programs for
independent study related to best management practices for
agricultural or aquaculture sustainability, ecosystem health concerning
plants and animals, urban farming and gardening and food product
development and marketing, (2) developing community outreach
programs for students in grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive,
through agriculture and aquaculture science programs or through
participation with organizations such as Future Farmers of America, a
local 4-H organization or an independent farm that provides
agricultural education programs, (3) developing community outreach
programs to support state residents in identifying means of accessing
fresh food products, exploring healthy eating and interacting with local
farms, and (4) using grants or other funding opportunities to establish House Bill No. 6580
Special Act No. 21-27 2 of 2
such programs or support existing programs.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2022, The University of Connecticut shall
submit a report on the findings of the feasibility study, in accordance
with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint
standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
matters relating to higher education.