2015 -- H 6354

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LC002963

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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 - HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Palangio, Regunberg, Amore, Maldonado, and Handy

     Date Introduced: June 25, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 16-21-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled "Health and

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Safety of Pupils" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-21-7. School health. -- (a) All schools that are approved for the purpose of §§ 16-19-1

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and 16-19-2 shall have a school health program which shall be approved by the state director of

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the department of health and the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or the

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commissioner of higher education, as appropriate. The program shall provide for the organized

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direction and supervision of a healthful school environment, health education, and services. The

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program shall include and provide, within and consistent with existing school facilities, for the

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administration of nursing care by certified nurse teachers, as defined in § 16-21-8, as shall be

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requested, in writing, by the attending physician of any student and authorized, in writing, by the

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parent or legal guardian of the student. No instruction in the characteristics, symptoms, and the

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treatment of disease shall be given to any child whose parent or guardian shall present a written

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statement signed by them stating that the instructions should not be given the child because of

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religious beliefs.

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     (b) All Rhode Island elementary, middle and junior high schools that sell or distribute

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beverages and snacks on their premises, including those sold through vending machines, shall be

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required to offer healthier beverages effective January 1, 2007, and healthier snacks effective

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January 1, 2008 as defined in chapter 21 of this title.

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     (c)(b) All Rhode Island elementary, middle, and senior high schools that sell or distribute

 

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beverages and snacks on their premises, including those sold through vending machines,

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competitive foods and beverages on the school campus during the school day shall be required to

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offer only healthier healthy foods and beverages and snacks effective January 1, 2008 as defined

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in chapter 21 of this title. as set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture under the

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

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implementing the act promulgated pursuant to the provisions of 42 U.S.C. 1779(b). Provided, the

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Rhode Island board of education or local school committees may adopt more restrictive policies

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than the ones referenced herein.

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     (c) The standards set forth and referenced in this section shall apply throughout the entire

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school campus, including, but not limited to, a la carte food sale, school stores, vending

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machines, and fundraisers held during the school day.

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     (d) Schools may permit the sale of beverages and snacks that do not comply with the

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above paragraph subsection (b) of this section as part of school fundraising in any of the

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following circumstances:

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     (1) The items are sold by pupils of the school and the sale of those items takes place off

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and away from the premises of the school campus.

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     (2) The items are sold by pupils of the school and the sale of those items takes place one

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hour or more after the end of the school day as defined in subsection (g) of this section.

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     (3) The items sold during a school sponsored pupil activity after the end of the school

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day. Career and technical schools with culinary arts or food service programs may request an

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exemption from the department of elementary and secondary education to enable the limited

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sale of non-compliant snacks and beverages which have been prepared by culinary students as

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part of their curriculum. No specially exempted fundraiser foods or beverages may be sold in

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competition with school meals during the meal service.

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     (e) The department of elementary and secondary education shall post on its website

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resources to assist school districts with implementation of this section.

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     (f) The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop a process

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to monitor compliance with this section.

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     (g) Definitions. As used in this section:

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     (1) "Competitive foods" means all foods and beverages other than meals

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reimbursed under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. §

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1751 et seq.) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. §1771 et seq.), available for

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sale to students on the school campus during the school day.

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     (2) "School campus" means all areas of the property under the jurisdiction of the

 

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school that are accessible to students during the school day.

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     (3) "School day" means the period from midnight before to sixty (60) minutes

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after the end of the official school day.

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     SECTION 2. Sections 16-21-29 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled “Health

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and Safety of Pupils” is hereby repealed.

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     16-21-29. Definitions. -- As used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Healthier beverages" shall be defined as:

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     (a) Water, including carbonated water, flavored or sweetened with one hundred percent

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(100%) fruit juice and containing no added sweetener.

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     (b) Two percent (2%) fat milk, one percent (1%) fat milk, nonfat milk, and dairy

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alternatives, such as fortified soy beverages; plain or flavored, with a sugar content of not more

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than four (4) grams per ounce.

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     (c) One hundred percent (100%) fruit juice or fruit based drinks that are composed of no

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less than fifty percent (50%) fruit juice and have no added sweetener.

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     (d) Vegetable-based drinks that are composed of no less than fifty percent (50%)

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vegetable juice and have no added sweetener.

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     (2) "Healthier snacks" shall be defined as:

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     (a) Individually sold portions of nuts, nut butters, seeds, eggs, and cheese packaged for

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individual sale, fruit, vegetables that have not been deep fried, and legumes.

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     (b) Individually sold portions of low fat yogurt with not more than four (4) grams of total

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carbohydrates (including both naturally occurring and added sugars) per ounce and reduced fat or

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low fat cheese packaged for individual sale.

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     (c) Individually sold enriched or fortified grain or grain product; or whole grain food

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items that meet all of the following standards based on manufacturers' nutritional data or nutrient

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facts labels:

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     (i) Not more than thirty percent (30%) of its total calories shall be from fat.

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     (ii) Not more than ten percent (10%) of its total calories shall be from saturated fat.

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     (iii) Not more than seven (7) grams of total sugar (includes both naturally occurring and

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added sugars) per ounce.

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     (3) "Added sweetener" shall mean any additive, including natural or artificial additives

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that enhances the sweetness of the beverage, including, added sugar, but does not include, the

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naturally occurring sugar or sugars that are contained within milk or fruit juice.

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     (4) "Snack" means a food that is generally regarded as supplementing a meal, including,

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but not limited to: chips, crackers, onion rings, nachos, French fries, donuts, cookies, pastries,

 

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cinnamon rolls, and candy.

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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 - HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

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     This act would modify the types of healthy foods and beverages that could be sold to

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students in schools during the school day by referencing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of

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2010. Career and technical schools with culinary arts or food service programs would be

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permitted to request an exemption that would allow the sale of non-compliant snacks and

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beverages to students in school if such food was prepared by culinary students as part of their

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curriculum. The act would also repeal the current definitions of healthier beverages and snacks.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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