"Relating to a limitation on sanctions imposed on school districts for the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value."
Filed on February 25, 2013
Sponsor: Representative Ken King
This bill states that "the department may not impose on a school district a sanction, including disallowing mean reimbursement, based on the sale to students at a high school of food of minimal nutritional value, if the sale is approved in advance by the school and is made: outside of a school area designated for food service or food consumption of during a period other than a school meal service period; and for the purpose of raising money for a student organization or activity sponsored or sanctioned by the school or the school district in which the school is located.” http://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB1781
In 2011-2013, only 12% of Senate bills made it past committee and only 2% were enacted. o http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s39
The bill immediately takes effect if two-thirds of the members elected to each house vote to approve the bill.
Nutrition is a national issue, and many other states have succeeded in implementing programs to better child nutrition. For example, a few high schools in California implement a program to help children to change their eating ways. The school serves fresh and never frozen foods to the children, less sodium and trans fats, and more whole grains, fruits and vegetables. They also limited the calories for each school's lunch: 650 calories for elementary school, 700 for middle schools, and 850 for high schools. For more information on this topic, visit this link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/18/healthy-school-lunches-se_n_2506756.html?utm_hp_ref=education
Obesity is a huge problem in Texas, and will only lead to future health care costs. In the picture below, you can see that Texas has one of the highest obesity rates, and California is among the lowest. If Texas school's followed the same programs as California schools, we would see the obesity rate drop dramatically.
For more information regarding this bill, visit http://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB1781
Shelby Knight
School Nutrition
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