Bill Text: CA AB627 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Child care: nutritional requirements.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2010-01-14 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. [AB627 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB627-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 627	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 1, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 13, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Brownley
    (   Coauthor:   Assembly Member  
Hall   ) 

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   An act to add Section 49546.5 to the Education Code, and to add
Section 1596.804 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to child
nutrition.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 627, as amended, Brownley. Child care: nutritional
requirements.
   (1) Under existing law, the California Child Day Care Facilities
Act, the State Department of Social Services licenses and regulates
child day care facilities, as defined. A willful or repeated
violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor.
   This bill would require that a licensed child day care facility
meet specified health and nutrition-related requirements. This bill
would exempt a child day care facility from these requirements, as
prescribed, for a child with a documented medical necessity  that
prevents compliance  .  By changing the definition of a
crime, the bill would create a state-mandated local program.
  The bill would   require compliance with
these provisions by a child day care facility by January 1, 2011, and
would provide that a facility shall annually self-certify compliance
to the department. It would provide that noncompliance shall not
result in civil or criminal penalties or penalties related to
licensure. 
   (2) Under existing law, the State Department of Education
administers the child care food program pursuant to federal law,
under which food is provided to child development programs and
alternative child care programs, as defined. 
   This bill would, to the extent allowed by federal law, and if an
increase in the reimbursement rate for the program occurs, require a
participating entity to meet specified health and nutrition criteria,
including the above-described requirements of the bill, as a
condition for receipt of funds pursuant to the child care food
program.  
   (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.  
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.  
   This bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction
to establish an 18-month pilot program in which licensed child care
centers and child day care homes selected by the department that
participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program shall
implement certain nutrition and physical activity standards in
exchange for a higher state meal reimbursement. This bill would
require the State Department of Education to design and implement the
pilot program, as specified. The bill would specify that its
provisions shall only be implemented if the Superintendent determines
that non-General Fund funding sources are available for that
purpose, as specified. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program:  yes   no  .


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Almost 20 percent of children between two years of age and
five years of age in California are overweight or obese, and research
shows that the condition is difficult to reverse at adolescence or
in adulthood.
   (b) Research demonstrates that taste preferences and lifelong
healthy habits are formed in early childhood years.
   (c) Recent changes to school meals to improve nutrition need to be
 complimented   complemented  with changes
to the nutrition environment in child care.
   (d) Recent research demonstrates that the nutrition environment in
child care could be improved by encouraging low-fat dairy products,
fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grain products.
   (e) The State of California has a strong policy and financial
involvement in the licensed child care system and in the health and
safety of children while they are engaged in that system. 
  SEC. 2.    Section 49546.5 is added to the
Education Code, to read:
   49546.5.   (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), and to the
extent allowed by federal law, if an increase in the reimbursement
rate under this program occurs on or after January 1, 2010, a
participating entity shall, as a condition for receipt of funds
pursuant to this article, comply with all of the following:
   (1) Comply with the health requirements set forth in Section
1596.804 of the Health and Safety Code.
   (2) Limit the serving of fried potatoes to a maximum of one time
per week.
   (3) Limit the serving of sweet grains, including, but not limited
to, toaster pastries, cookies, coffee cake, sweet rolls, doughnuts,
or cakes, to no more than two times per week, and only as snacks.
    (4) Provide at least one serving of a whole grain product per
day.
   (5) Limit serving hot dogs, SPAM, luncheon meats, and other
processed meat products to a maximum of three times per week.
   (6) Not serve sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverages.

   (7) Not serve canned fruits and vegetables that contain added
sweeteners other than 100 percent juice.
   (b) If a child has a medical necessity, documented by a physician,
that prevents a participating entity from complying with the
requirements of subdivision (a), then the participating entity shall
be exempt from those requirements, to the extent necessary, for
purposes of that child only. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 49546.5 is added to the  
Education Code  , to read:  
   49546.5.  (a) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall
establish an 18-month pilot program in which licensed child care
centers and child day care homes selected by the department that
participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (42
U.S.C. Sec. 1766) shall implement certain nutrition and physical
activity standards in exchange for a higher state meal reimbursement.

   (b) The department shall design and implement the pilot program
established pursuant to this section. The department may convene a
stakeholder group to provide advice on the design, implementation,
and evaluation of the pilot program.
   (c) The department shall contract with an independent agency to
evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the pilot program. The
evaluation shall be completed within one year of the conclusion of
the pilot program. The evaluation shall include, at a minimum, all of
the following:
   (1) The health, nutrition, and other related outcomes of the pilot
program on children served in the participating child care centers
and child day care homes, the child care providers, and the parents.
   (2) The resulting changes in food and beverages provided, and
physical activity occurring, at the participating child care centers
and child day care homes.
   (3) The fiscal impact of the policies and standards developed at
participating child care centers and child day care homes.
   (4) Recommendations for improvements or additions to the pilot
program.
   (d) This section shall only be implemented if the Superintendent
determines that non-General Fund funding sources, including, but not
limited to, federal funding or grant sources, are available to
implement this section. If the Superintendent makes a determination
that non-General Fund funding sources are available, he or she shall
file a declaration to that effect with the Senate and Assembly
Committees on Education. 
  SEC. 3.  Section 1596.804 is added to the Health and Safety Code,
to read:
   1596.804.  (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b),  and
subject to subdivision (c),  a licensed child day care facility
shall comply with all of the following health requirements:
   (1) Meals and snacks shall include, at a minimum, the amount of
food and the components that are specified in Section 226.20 of Title
7 of the Code of Federal Regulations in effect on December 31, 2009.

   (2) Only lowfat or nonfat milk shall be served to children over
two years of age.
   (3) Juice shall be limited to a maximum of one serving per day,
and only  100 percent  100-percent  juice
shall be served.
   (4) At least one vegetable shall be served at lunch and supper.
   (5) Deep fat frying shall be prohibited onsite.
   (6) Sugar shall be limited to 6 grams per serving for both hot and
cold cereals. 
   (7) For children in full day care, screen time, including, but not
limited to, television, video games, and computer usage, shall be
limited to a maximum of one hour per day and shall be limited to
quality programming. For children in less than full day care, screen
time shall be reduced proportionately.  
   (8) 
    (7)  Water shall be accessible and available for
consumption throughout the day.
   (b) If a child has a medical necessity, documented by a physician,
that prevents a child day care facility from complying with the
requirements of subdivision (a), then the facility shall be exempt
from those requirements, to the extent necessary, for purposes of
that child only. 
   (c) A licensed child care facility shall comply with this section
by January 1, 2011.  
   (d) A licensed child care facility shall, on an annual basis,
self-certify to the department compliance with this section. 

   (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, failure
to comply with this section shall not result in, or be considered in,
the loss of licensure, or result in any civil or criminal penalties.
 
  SEC. 4.    No reimbursement is required by this
act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local
agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a
new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or
changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of
Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a
crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the
California Constitution.