What's happening
This bill requires all New York public schools to offer at least one flavored milk option during scheduled meal periods.
Why it matters
Expands student choice and could increase milk consumption. By requiring flavored milk options, the bill aims to make school meals more appealing, potentially leading to higher milk intake and improved calcium/vitamin D consumption among students, especially those who may not otherwise drink plain milk.
Raises questions about nutrition and health. While flavored milk can boost overall milk consumption, it also typically contains added sugars. This could have implications for student health, especially given concerns about childhood obesity and sugar intake.
Creates a uniform statewide standard. The bill removes local discretion, ensuring all public schools in New York offer flavored milk, which may impact how school districts negotiate with milk suppliers and plan their meal programs.
Potential cost and logistical impacts for schools. Schools may face increased costs or logistical challenges in sourcing and storing multiple types of milk, potentially affecting school meal budgets or kitchen operations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Flavored Milk in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7005
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2020
Introduced by Sen. JORDAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring public schools to provide a flavored milk option at scheduled meal periods
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 915-a to read as follows:
§ 915-a. Milk options. Each public school in the state shall offer at least one flavored milk option during scheduled meal periods.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date upon which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all school years commencing on or after such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14221-02-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring public schools to provide a flavored milk option at scheduled meal periods
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the education law by adding a new section 915-a which requires that New York State public schools offer at least one flavored milk option during scheduled meal periods.
Section 2 sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Studies over the last decade have shown conclusively that consuming flavored milk offers a significant benefit to children and especially school-aged children. Research has shown that students who consume flavored milk drink fewer soft drinks, have better exposure to calcium and other nutrients, and have a lower body mass index than non-milk drinkers. The reason for this is simple; milk is extremely beneficial for the developing bodies of children. Not all school children enjoy plain milk but will happily consume flavored milk, and this effect is extremely beneficial from the public health point of view.
Despite the clear health benefits associated with flavored milk in schools, some municipalities have proposed doing away with chocolate milk in their schools citing a desire to reduce sugar intake. However, school chocolate milk has only eight more grams of sugar than skim milk according to reporting by NBC New York. Dieticians - including one cited in the article - have made the point that the health benefits that flavored milk options provide far outweigh the minimal sugar increase they include. Consequently, well-intended local efforts to restrict milk choice will actually have a negative impact on the health and growth of the children of our State.
This bill ensures that children across New York State have access to at least one flavored milk option, ensuring they have access to the bene- fits provided by milk.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
First of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.