BILL REQ. #:  H-1441.1 

Read first time 02/12/2003.   Referred to Committee on Health Care.

     AN ACT Relating to nutrition in public schools; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.210 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) The effects of poor dietary habits established in youth will carry with children into adulthood. Obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and heart disease are just some of the long-term effects of poor eating habits.
     (2) Fewer than twenty-five percent of high school age children in Washington eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day as recommended. Teens are not eating adequate amounts of iron, calcium, riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamins A and C. Most teen diets lack appropriate levels of grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
     (3) Obesity rates in Washington state have doubled over the last ten years. At least twenty percent of children are obese or at grave risk for becoming obese. Poor dietary habits can increase the risk of obesity, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
     (4) Public schools must set an example for children by promoting healthy eating at school meals and healthy options in their choices of competitive foods.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
     The department, with the assistance of the office of the superintendent of public instruction, shall develop statewide recommendations for local school boards to follow when determining the nutritional content of meals served in public schools, the content of course curricula regarding nutrition, and policies concerning competitive foods available to students. The recommendations must be based on current nutritional science that has been demonstrated to help students control excessive weight and weight gain, avoid unsafe weight loss practices, foster healthy eating habits, and avoid diseases that can be caused by unsafe dietary habits. The recommendations must be tailored to address the different health needs and associated peer pressure influences of students in elementary school, middle school, and high school.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28A.320 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Every board of school directors shall develop a nutritional integrity policy that incorporates the principles contained in the district's nutrition education curriculum and the recommendations of the department of health and the United States department of agriculture on healthy dietary practices into the district's meal program and competitive food policy. The nutritional integrity policy shall focus on helping students control excessive weight and weight gain, avoid unsafe weight loss practices, foster healthy eating habits, and avoid diseases that can be caused by unsafe dietary habits. The policy must be tailored to address the different health needs and associated peer pressure influences of students in elementary school, middle school, and high school.
     (2) If competitive foods are made available in schools, the nutritional integrity policy must require that no less than an equal number of foods that qualify as healthy under the standards of the district's nutrition education curriculum and the recommendations of the department of health and United States department of agriculture are available compared to foods that do not meet those standards. The policy must provide for standards governing the appropriate time and location of competitive foods so that they do not interfere with meal schedules. Pricing structures for foods that do not meet the district's nutritional standards for health must be reviewed so that healthy competitive foods are a feasible alternative.
     (3) The nutritional integrity policy must be reviewed and revised, as appropriate, every two years.
     (4) Parents must be provided an opportunity to review the nutritional integrity policy and comment on its development.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 28A.210 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt protocols for schools to measure and record the height and weight of students enrolled each fall term in odd-numbered grade levels. The schools shall provide the department of health with a list of the grade, age, height, and weight of students screened in a format that does not identify any student.
     (2) The protocols adopted by the superintendent must provide that:
     (a) Parental consent must be obtained before a student may be measured;
     (b) Individual student height and weight records must be kept confidential;
     (c) Persons conducting the screening shall receive training in respectfulness that emphasizes the importance of maintaining the students' self-esteem and privacy; and
     (d) No student may be required to remove any article of clothing or jewelry except for a jacket or shoes.
     (3) The department of health shall compile, in aggregate form by grade and age, the heights and weights for each school and school district statewide in an annual report. The report shall note trends in obesity statewide and by school district. The department of health shall make the report available to the legislature, the superintendent of public instruction, every school district, and any other members of the public by request.