Proposed school "bake sale bill" in progress

Greetings,

 

Late yesterday I received the following legislative update that may be of interest from the CRFS public policy consultant, Jean Doss.  I’ve added additional resources for your reference after her message.

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Michigan Lead for National Farm to School Network

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd | Rm 303 Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517.432.0310

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

 

***

Dear Colleen:

I thought you might want to share this update with your networks:

Yesterday, Senate Bill (SB) 139 was passed by the State Senate Education Committee. As described in the Gongwer Michigan Report  for March 10, 2015: 

 

“A bill that would ensure school groups could sell food products during school hours to raise money even if those foods are out of compliance with federal nutritional requirements won approval Tuesday from the Senate Education Committee. SB (Senate Bill) 139 would allow at least three such sales per week.”

 

The bill now goes before the full State Senate.  If the bill passes there, the next step in the legislative process is referral to the House Education Committee.

 

To review the full text of the bill, as well as nonpartisan analyses, go to: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(xhm3ewfvscliylg2po2f15xr))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2015-SB-0139

 

If individuals or organizations have views on this issue, they may wish to share those views with state legislators at this time.  The bill appears to be moving quickly.

 

Thanks Colleen!

 

Jean Doss

 

*****

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON THIS ISSUE:

 

The federal  Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (otherwise known as the Child Nutrition Reauthorization) included “Smart Snacks In School” nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold in school during the school day, including through school fundraisers. These standards went into effect this school year (2014/2015).

 

To learn more about the Smart Snack standards, see these links:

·         Smart Snacks in School: Fundraisers, USDA

·         Smart Snacks in School: USDA’s “All Foods Sold in Schools” Standards, USDA

·         Smart Snacks in Schools, Michigan Department of Education

 

See recent news stories about this proposed bill in the Michigan legislature below:

·         Bring back bake sales? Michigan lawmaker wants to let schools sell sweets at fundraisers, MLive

·         Cupcakes, doughnuts make comeback in Michigan schools?, Detroit Free Press

·         School bake sales to return?, WILX

 

See previous national news articles about the launch of the Smart Snacks rules here:

·         U.S. Standards for School Snacks Move Beyond Cafeteria to Fight Obesity – New York Times

·         Put Down the Cupcake: New Ban Hits School Bake Sales – Wall Street Journal

·         School snack foods: In or out? – CNN