2015 -- H 5382

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LC000997

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION-UNHEALTHY FOOD AND BEVERAGE ADVERTISING

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Solomon, Bennett, Azzinaro, and

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Legislative Findings:

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     (a) Childhood obesity rates in the United States have risen dramatically over the past

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thirty (30) years and today almost one-third (1/3) of American children are obese or overweight.

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In 2013, sixteen percent (16%) of Rhode Island high school students were overweight and eleven

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percent (11%) were obese. Poor diet and physical inactivity increase the risk for certain chronic

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health conditions, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

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     (b) The medical costs of obesity are rising rapidly in the United States and are estimated

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to be $147 billion per year. Roughly half of these obesity-related costs are paid by Medicare and

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Medicaid, indicating that taxpayers foot the bill for obesity's medical costs. Obesity-related

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health-care spending accounts for eight and one-half percent (8.5%) of Medicare spending, eleven

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and eight-tenths percent (11.8%) of Medicaid spending, and twelve and nine tenths percent

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(12.9%) of private payer spending.

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     (c) The marketing of foods of poor nutritional value to American children contributes to

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the rise in obesity by affecting children’s food preferences, choices, and diet. The amount of

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money that the food industry currently spends on marketing and advertising to influence what

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children choose to eat is twice the amount spent a decade ago. Young children ages twelve (12)

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and under are especially vulnerable to these marketing and advertising strategies because they are

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developmentally less able to comprehend their intent.

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     (d) The mission of our schools is to educate our children. Increasingly, studies

 

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demonstrate a relationship between healthy eating, regular physical activity, and students'

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academic success. The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that students

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who are physically active, and eat a nutritious diet receive higher grades than their classmates

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who are physically inactive and eat foods that are less nutritious. Helping students to stay healthy

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promotes academic success.

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     (e) While national, state, and local efforts have improved the nutritional quality of foods

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provided and sold in schools, some schools permit the marketing of foods high in calories, fat,

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and sugar and of minimal nutritional value. That marketing includes sales, free samples, and

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advertising of unhealthy foods; corporate-sponsored fundraising programs which encourage

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students and their families to sell, purchase, and consume foods and beverages with little

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nutritional value; incentive programs, which reward children with free or discounted foods or

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beverages when they reach certain academic goals; sponsorship of school programs or events;

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and branded educational materials.

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     (f) Permitting the advertising of foods and beverages at schools that may not be sold there

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interferes with school messages promoting good health and academic success. If children are

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taught through school health and nutrition curriculum to limit their intake of these foods and at

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the same time the foods are promoted by school-based advertising and marketing, the lessons of

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school health and nutrition curricula are undermined. The marketing also undermines parents'

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efforts to feed their children a healthy diet.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     16-21-7.1. Unhealthy food and beverage advertising prohibited in schools. -- (a)

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Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a school district shall prohibit at any school

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within the district:

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     (1) The advertising of any food or beverage that may not be sold on the school campus

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during the school day or of any corporate brand, unless every food and beverage product

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manufactured, sold, or distributed under the corporate brand name can be served or sold on the

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school campus during the school day. For purposes of this statute, food and beverages that may

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not be sold on the school campus during the school day are those that do not meet the minimum

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nutrition standards as set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture under the Healthy,

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Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 Pub. L. No. 111-296, and federal regulations implementing the act

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42 U.S.C. § 1779(b), and as set forth by the local school committee. Advertising is prohibited on

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any property or facility owned or leased by the school district or school and used at any time for

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school-related activities, including, but not limited to, school buildings, athletic fields, facilities,

 

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signs, scoreboards, parking lots, school buses or other vehicles, equipment, vending machines,

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uniforms, educational material, or supplies.

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      (2) The participation in a corporate incentive program that rewards children with free or

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discounted foods or beverages that may not be sold on the school campus during the school day

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when they reach certain academic goals; or

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     (3) The participation in corporate-sponsored programs that provide funds to schools in

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exchange for consumer purchases of foods and beverages that may not be sold on the school

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campus during the school day.

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     (b) Exceptions. The restriction on advertising in subsection (a) of this section shall not

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apply to:

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     (1) Advertising on broadcast, digital, or print media, unless the media are produced or

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controlled by the local education agency, school, faculty, or its students;

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     (2) Advertising on clothing with brand images worn on school grounds; or

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     (3) Advertising contained on product packaging.

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     (c) Definitions as used in this section.

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     (1) "Advertising" means an oral, written, or graphic statement or representation,

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including a company logo or trademark, made for the purpose of promoting the use or sale of a

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product by the producer, manufacturer, distributer, seller, or any other entity with a commercial

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interest in the product.

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     (2) "Brand" means a corporate or product name, a business image, or a mark, regardless

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of whether it may legally qualify as a trademark used by a seller or manufacturer to identify

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goods or services and to distinguish them from competitors' goods.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION-UNHEALTHY FOOD AND BEVERAGE ADVERTISING

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     This act would prohibit on any school campus the advertising of any food or beverage

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that may not be sold on the school campus during the school day or of any corporate brand,

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unless every food and beverage product manufactured, sold, or distributed under the corporate

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brand name can be served or sold on the school campus during the school day.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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