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H. 4528

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Altman
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gjk\20819sd04.doc
Companion/Similar bill(s): 416

Introduced in the House on January 14, 2004
Currently residing in the House Committee on Education and Public Works

Summary: Public schools, food and drink; must comply with certain dietary requirements

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1/14/2004  House   Introduced and read first time HJ-6
   1/14/2004  House   Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works HJ-7

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/14/2004

TO AMEND CHAPTER 5, TITLE 59, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-5-73, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO PUBLIC SCHOOL MAY HAVE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS, IN THE CAFETERIA OR ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS, FOOD OR DRINK THAT EXCEEDS OR DOES NOT COMPLY WITH DIETARY LIMITATION REQUIREMENTS PROVIDED FOR IN THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT AND THE MOST RECENT APPLICABLE DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS, TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT ANY SCHOOL WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE PROVISIONS SHALL LOSE CERTAIN STATE FUNDING.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    The General Assembly finds that:

(1)    one out of every five children in South Carolina is obese;

(2)    eighty percent of children diagnosed with Type 2 or adult-onset diabetes are overweight;

(3)    although Type 2 diabetes has historically occurred rarely in children, it is becoming common, especially in adolescents;

(4)    one of the serious complications of diabetes and obesity is cardiovascular disease;

(5)    proper diet is an important element in the prevention and management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease;

(6)    food offered in vending machines, as well as fast foods and candy sales in schools, contributes to consumption by students of high-calorie, high-fat, high-sugar, and nonnutritive foods that can lead to obesity; and

(7)    it is extremely important for children to establish healthy eating habits.

SECTION    2.    Chapter 5 of Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-5-73.    (A)    No public school may have available to students, in the cafeteria or on the school grounds, food or drink that exceeds or does not comply with dietary limitation requirements provided for in the National School Lunch Act and the most recent applicable Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Determination of compliance with dietary requirements must be made after factoring in meals served by the school. In addition, only whole grain products, vegetables, fruits, low-fat milk products or other calcium-rich foods, beans, lean meat, poultry, fish or other protein-rich foods, and one hundred percent fruit juices and water may be offered or made available to students unless part of a meal served by the school. All meals served by the school must be in compliance with the National School Lunch Act and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The requirements of this subsection do not apply to students with special dietary needs.

(B)    The provisions of subsection (A) do not apply to faculty or staff of the school.

(C)    The provisions of subsection (A) do not prohibit the sale or consumption of food or drink products not complying with subsection (A) after regular school hours or at extracurricular activities.

(D)    Any school which fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (A) on a second or subsequent occasion shall lose two percent of all state funding for the ensuing fiscal year. The State Superintendent of Education is responsible for implementing the provisions of this subsection. Any state aid so forfeited shall revert to the school district of which that school is a part for use by other schools in the district."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

This web page was last updated on Monday, December 7, 2009 at 10:37 A.M.