CA AB 2316

Title: Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition.
Author: Jesse Gabriel

Summary
AB 2316, as amended, Gabriel. Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to develop and maintain nutrition guidelines for school lunches and breakfasts, and for all food and beverages sold on public school campuses. Existing law requires those nutrition guidelines to be consistent with the requirements for a nutritionally adequate breakfast and a nutritionally adequate lunch. Existing law defines a nutritionally adequate breakfast and a nutritionally adequate lunch for these purposes to mean those that qualify for reimbursement under the most current meal pattern for the federal School Breakfast Program and the federal National School Lunch Program, respectively.Existing law requires a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to make available a nutritionally adequate breakfast and a nutritionally adequate lunch, free of charge, during each schoolday to any pupil who requests a meal without consideration of the pupil’s eligibility for a federally funded free or reduced-price meal. Existing law authorizes a school, from the midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official schoolday, to sell food and beverages other than meals reimbursed by specified federal nutrition programs, only if the food or beverages meet dietary guidelines, as specified, depending on grade level.This bill, notwithstanding any other law, commencing July 1, 2025, would prohibit a public school, defined as a school operated by a school district or county office of education, a charter school, and the state special schools, from offering, selling, or otherwise providing any food, except for food items sold as part of a school fundraising event, as specified, containing specified substances, including, among others, red 40 and titanium dioxide, as provided. To the extent this bill would impose additional requirements on public schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

Bill Documents
CA AB 2316 - 04/08/24 - Amended Assembly
04/08/24 - CA AB 2316 (04/08/24 - Amended Assembly)