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- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to nutritional standards in public schools
Purpose
To improve the health and well-being of children attending the public schools by requiring certain nutritional standards in public schools.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this legislation adds a new section to the education law to require all schools (K-12) to adopt school nutritional standards. Any foods served or sold to pupils during breakfast and lunch periods at elementary schools, middle schools and high schools shall be sold as a full meal. The sale of fruit, non-fried vegetables, legumes, beverages, dairy products or grain products must meet the following requirements: 1) no more than 35% of the calories shall be from fat, with the exception of fat from nuts or seeds; 2) no more than 10% of the total calories shall be from saturated fat or trans fatty acids; 3) no more than 35% of the total weight of such items shall be composed of sugar, with the exception of natural sugars in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products; and 4) no "junk food" shall be sold at any time. Any drinks which are 1% or fat-free, or contain at least 50% fruit juice and contain no added sweeteners may be sold or served to pupils. Beverage items that exceed 12 ounces per serving shall be sold from 1/2 hour before the start of the school day until 1/2 hour after the end of the school day, with the exception of water, milk or 1% or fat-free dairy and nondairy milk. The sale of food and drinks which do not comply with the standards shall be permitted to be sold at least 1/2 hour after the end of the school day. Vending machines that contain beverage items that do not meet the requirements shall remain locked until at least 1/2 hour after the end of the school day. Section 2 requires the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, shall be authorized to promulgate any rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of these nutritional standards. Section 3 requires the Commissioner of Education, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Health, to report to the Governor, the temporary president of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly the effectiveness of the nutritional standards and make recommendations to continue to improve the health and well-being of pupils.
Read the full memo (621 words)
Justification
Overweight and obesity has become the fastest growing epidemic affecting Americans today. According to the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 9 million children between the ages of 6 and 19 are labeled overweight. The most important reason that children are overweight is the lack of physical activity and poor eating habits: According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, almost half of the children between the ages of 12 and 21 do not participate in any vigorous physical activity. Studies also show that most children who are overweight grow up to be overweight or obese adults, putting themselves at greater risk for health problems associated with obesity. It is critical that we take the lead to help prevent obesity in our children by ensuring healthy eating habits by setting up nutritional policies in our schools and encouraging physical activity. By promoting nutritional standards in our schools, we will not only be promoting healthy eating but we will be teaching our children how to eat healthy and make better nutritional choices.
Legislative history
2003-2004: S.4418-A, Referred to Education 2005-2006: S.1805, Referred to Education 2007-2008: S.4775, Referred to Education EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.