Establishes public school nutrition standards and food service manager nutrition training requirements. Requires the department of education to encourage schools to provide culturally appropriate nutrition education and farm-to-table education programs.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that obesity is considered to be the major health issue of the twenty-first century. Obesity rates have soared throughout the United States, with an estimated two-thirds of the adult population self-reporting being overweight (approximately sixty-five per cent) and almost one-third (approximately thirty-one per cent) obese. Based upon the body mass index, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than forty-four million Americans were considered obese in 2001, an increase of seventy-four per cent in ten years. Moreover, the legislature notes that these same trends are occurring worldwide. The World Health Organization and the International Obesity Task Force have confirmed a worldwide epidemic, even as some developing countries struggle with undernourishment or famine.

The number of overweight children in the United States has doubled in the past thirty years, with similar patterns occurring in Hawaii. The legislature finds that, while not enough research has been done on childhood obesity in Hawaii, data from the youth risk behavior survey reports that approximately one-third of Hawaii's students consider themselves to be overweight, with another sixteen per cent at risk for becoming overweight. The legislature further finds that research demonstrates that overweight children tend to lead sedentary lifestyles, develop low self-esteem and psychological stress, and often lack the necessary drive and motivation required for excelling in the classroom.

Obesity in childhood, particularly adolescence, is a predictor for obesity in adulthood. The health and well-being of children is a predictor of the future health and well-being of adults. Unhealthy children often become unhealthy adults, with the concomitant health care costs to treat hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The toll upon the State's economy in terms of lost work hours resulting from these illnesses is considerable.

The legislature finds that food and beverages sold on school grounds can be a significant source of fat, calories, salt, sugar, and cholesterol. These unhealthy dietary elements are major contributors to poor health and, accordingly, an unhealthy lifestyle. The legislature notes that the two leading causes of obesity in children are a lack of physical activity and poor eating habits. This is due in large part to our "junk food" and "super-sized" American culture that promotes over-eating and the consumption of large amounts of sugar and fat. The legislature notes that carbonated drinks are the single largest source of refined sugars in the American diet and that seventy per cent of elementary school-aged children exceed the current dietary recommendations for total calories and saturated fat intake. Furthermore, the legislature finds that the frequent drinking of sweet liquids throughout the day increases a child's risk for dental decay, the most common chronic childhood disease.

The legislature finds that schools are a logical place to address the issue of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. The purpose of this Act is to address such obesity by: establishing nutrition standards for food and beverages sold in public elementary, intermediate, and middle schools; establishing nutrition education training requirements for food service managers; and providing farm-to-table nutrition education and other culturally appropriate standards based nutrition education.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Nutrition standards; department of education policy. (a) This section applies to all food and beverages sold on elementary, middle, or intermediate school grounds. This section applies to public schools, without regard to whether the food or beverage is sold over-the-counter or from vending machines.

(b) The sale of all foods to elementary, middle, or intermediate grade students shall be limited to full meals sold at breakfast and lunch; provided that fruit, nonfried vegetables, legumes, beverages, dairy products, or grain products sold as individual food items may be sold during times of a break in the school schedule if they meet the following standards:

(c) The sale of beverages to elementary, middle, and intermediate school students on school grounds shall be limited to drinking water, milk (including chocolate milk) or approved nondairy beverages, beverages that contain one hundred per cent fruit juices, or fruit-based drinks composed of not less than fifty per cent fruit juice that have no added sweeteners.

(d) For purposes of this section, "added sweetener" means any additive that enhances the sweetness of a beverage including but not limited to added sugar, but does not include the natural sugar that is contained within the fruit juice that is a component of the beverage.

(e) The department and appropriate county agencies that operate after-school and weekend programs, as established in section 302A-408, shall also adhere to nutrition policies established in this section."

SECTION 3. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Nutrition training requirements; food service managers. (a) The department shall develop nutrition education training requirements for food service managers in public schools. The nutrition education training requirements shall address all public school food service, including school snacks as well as full meal service.

(b) By January 1, 2007, all existing food service managers shall complete the nutrition education training requirements pursuant to subsection (a). Any new food service managers shall complete the nutrition education training requirements within six months of the manager's date of hiring.

(c) The department of education may adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to implement the purposes of this section."

SECTION 4. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Nutrition education; department of education. The department shall encourage elementary, middle, and intermediate schools to provide students with culturally appropriate and standards-based nutrition education and, whenever possible, integrate that material into the existing curriculum. The department shall encourage elementary, middle, and intermediate schools to provide farm-to-table nutrition education in schools where resources permit access to school, community, county, or other gardens."

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.