Bill Text: CA SB717 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Food choices.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2018-02-01 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB717 Detail]
Download: California-2017-SB717-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION
| Senate Bill | No. 717 |
| Introduced by Senator Stern |
February 17, 2017 |
An act relating to food and agriculture.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 717, as introduced, Stern.
Food choices.
Existing law establishes the Department of Food and Agriculture, which is tasked with, among other things, promoting and protecting the agricultural industry of the state, and seeking to enhance, protect, and perpetuate the ability of the private sector to produce food and fiber in a way that benefits the general welfare and economy of the state. Existing law also establishes the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative for the purpose of promoting healthy food access in the state.
This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would develop and implement a coherent and comprehensive policy to improve access to more equitable, sustainable, and healthier food choices for all Californians.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California lacks a coherent and comprehensive policy that recognizes the interconnected nature of the health of our environment, our agricultural economy, and ourselves.
(b) In California, one in nine children, one in three teens, and more than one-half of adults are overweight or obese. Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, and many types of cancer, and costs California about $21 billion annually.
(c) Californians living in low-income and underserved rural and urban communities lack access to
healthy and sustainable foods, although farm-to-every-fork, school and urban gardens, youth culinary training, and other strategies are addressing these inequities.
(d) The vast majority of children in California are not eating their recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables.
(e) California is committed to the preservation of its environment and natural resources, energy and water conservation, and climate change mitigation. Peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that these commitments can be furthered by offering consumers more equitable, sustainable, and healthier food choices.
(f) California’s role as the nation’s leading producer of fruits, vegetables, and nuts leaves our economy well-positioned to benefit from increased consumption of California-grown produce.
(g) California is home to the world’s most innovative farmers, ranchers, and plant-based food technology companies that are expanding the availability of affordable, sustainable, and healthier foods.
