NY State Senate Bill 2025-S6668

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 19, 2025	referred to education

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A7590
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §5, Chap 537 of 1976; add §§915-a, 915-b & 915-c, Ed L

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to purchases of food products for school meals from New York state farmers, growers, producers or processors; prohibits sale of school foods containing certain synthetic color additives; establishes a "healthy kitchens, healthy schools program" to provide grants for kitchen upgrades; prohibits school meals from containing more than 25 grams of added sugars per day, in aggregate.

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6668

SPONSOR: WALCZYK
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law and chapter 537 of the laws of 1976,
relating to paid, free and reduced price breakfast for eligible pupils
in certain school districts, in relation to healthy school meals

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill aims to incentivize schools towards offering healthier meal
options to their students.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Includes breakfast and snacks into the state's 30% initiative
for buying locally sourced products.

Section 2: Prohibits FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No.  2,
FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, and Titanium
dioxide from being used in school meals that are reimbursed through the

National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Act.

Section 3: Creates the "Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Schools" grant program
to fund capital upgrades to school kitchens. All schools that apply
shall receive sufficient funding for their projects. However, if such
funding does not exist, the State Education Department shall report and
request the total amount of money they need.

Section 4: Limits added sugar content in school meals to 25 grams.

Section 5: Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State recognizes the vital role that healthy and nutritious
meals play in supporting the wellbeing and academic success of school
children. Providing healthy school lunches will help students reach
their academic potential, promote their overall growth and enhance their
long term health. To achieve these goals, New York State should imple-
ment the 30% Reimbursement Program, which incentivizes local school
districts to source food from local producers. In addition, ensuring the
nutritional value of school lunches requires limiting harmful additives
and excessive sugars. This legislation aligns with the American Heart
Association's recommendation to restrict added sugars in school meals to
no more than 25 grams per day, safeguarding students from the long-term
health risks associated with high sugar intake. Finally, to help local
schools prepare their food in more efficient and healthy ways, this
legislation also establishes the "Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Schools"
Grant Program, which will provide funding for schools to upgrade their
kitchen facilities. These improvements will enable schools to better
prepare fresh, nutritious meals that meet New York State's health and
wellness standards. By improved food sourcing, enhanced facility
upgrades, and stricter nutritional guidelines, this legislation takes a
comprehensive approach to ensuring that New York's students receive the
healthy meals they need to thrive.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Possible increase in state spending for grant program.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE: :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6668
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 19, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. WALCZYK -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law and chapter 537 of the laws  of  1976,
   relating to paid, free and reduced price breakfast for eligible pupils
   in certain school districts, in relation to healthy school meals

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivisions b and c of section 5 of  chapter  537  of  the
 laws  of  1976,  relating  to paid, free and reduced price breakfast for
 eligible pupils in certain school districts, subdivision b as amended by
 section 32-a of part A of chapter 56 of the laws of 2024 and subdivision
 c as amended by section 22-b of part A of chapter  56  of  the  laws  of
 2022, are amended to read as follows:
   b.  Notwithstanding  any  monetary  limitations with respect to school
 lunch programs contained in any law  or  regulation,  for  school  lunch
 meals  served in the school year commencing July 1, 2022 and each July 1
 thereafter, a school food authority shall be eligible for a State subsi-
 dy equal to $0.1901 per free and paid school lunch meal, and $0.0519 per
 reduced-price lunch meal, for any  school  lunch  meal  served  by  such
 school food authority; provided that the school food authority certifies
 to  the  Department  of  Agriculture and Markets through the application
 submitted pursuant to subdivision c  of  this  section  that  such  food
 authority  has  purchased  at  least thirty percent of its total cost of
 food products for its school lunch service program from New  York  state
 farmers,  growers, producers or processors in the preceding school year.
 COMMENCING JULY 1, 2025, AND EACH  JULY  1  THEREAFTER,  A  SCHOOL  FOOD
 AUTHORITY  SHALL  BE  ALLOWED  TO ATTRIBUTE MONEYS SPENT ON PURCHASES OF
 FOOD PRODUCTS FROM NEW YORK STATE FARMERS, GROWERS, PRODUCERS OR PROCES-
 SORS MADE FOR ITS SCHOOL BREAKFAST  OR  SNACK  PROGRAMS  TO  THE  THIRTY
 PERCENT OF COSTS FOR SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH SERVICE PROGRAMS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10040-03-5
 S. 6668                             2

 
   c.  The  Department of Agriculture and Markets in cooperation with the
 State Education Department, shall develop an application for school food
 authorities to seek an additional State subsidy pursuant to this section
 in a timeline and format prescribed by the commissioner  of  agriculture
 and  markets.  Such  application  shall  include, but not be limited to,
 documentation demonstrating  the  school  food  authority's  total  food
 purchases  for  its  school BREAKFAST, SNACK, AND lunch service program,
 and documentation demonstrating its total food purchases and percentages
 for such program, PERMITTED TO BE COUNTED UNDER THIS SECTION,  from  New
 York  State  farmers,  growers, producers or processors in the preceding
 school year. The application shall also include an attestation from  the
 school  food  authority's  chief  operating officer that it purchased at
 least thirty percent of its total cost of food products, PERMITTED TO BE
 COUNTED UNDER THIS SECTION, for its school BREAKFAST, SNACK,  AND  lunch
 service  program  from  New  York  State  farmers, growers, producers or
 processors in the preceding school year in order to  meet  the  require-
 ments  for  this additional State subsidy. School food authorities shall
 be required to annually apply for this subsidy. After  reviewing  school
 food authorities' completed applications for an additional State subsidy
 pursuant  to  this  section,  the  Department of Agriculture and Markets
 shall certify to the State Education Department the school food authori-
 ties approved for such additional State subsidy and the State  Education
 Department  shall  pay such additional State subsidy to such school food
 authorities.
   § 2. The education law is amended by adding a  new  section  915-a  to
 read as follows:
   §  915-A.  PROHIBITING  THE  SALE  OF FOODS CONTAINING SYNTHETIC COLOR
 ADDITIVES. 1. NO FOODS OR  BEVERAGES,  INCLUDING  COMPETITIVE  FOODS  AS
 DEFINED  UNDER  7  CFR  210.11(A)(2) AND MEALS REIMBURSED UNDER PROGRAMS
 AUTHORIZED BY THE FEDERAL RICHARD B. RUSSELL NATIONAL SCHOOL  LUNCH  ACT
 (PUBLIC  LAW  113-79)  AND  THE  FEDERAL CHILD NUTRITION ACT OF 1966 (42
 U.S.C. SEC. 1771 ET SEQ.), CONTAINING ANY OF  THE  FOLLOWING  SUBSTANCES
 SHALL BE SOLD IN ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL WITHIN THE STATE:
   A. FD&C RED NO. 3
   B. FD&C RED NO. 40
   C. FD&C BLUE NO. 1
   D. FD&C BLUE NO. 2
   E. FD&C GREEN NO. 3
   F. FD&C YELLOW NO. 5
   G. FD&C YELLOW NO. 6
   H. TITANIUM DIOXIDE
   2.  A  SCHOOL  MAY  PERMIT THE SALE OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES THAT DO NOT
 COMPLY WITH SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION IF THE SALE  OF  SUCH  ITEMS
 TAKES PLACE EITHER:
   A. OFF AND AWAY FROM THE PREMISES OF THE SCHOOL; OR
   B.  ON  SCHOOL  PREMISES  AT  LEAST ONE-HALF HOUR AFTER THE END OF THE
 SCHOOL DAY.
   § 3. The education law is amended by adding a  new  section  915-b  to
 read as follows:
   §  915-B.  HEALTHY  KITCHENS,  HEALTHY  SCHOOLS  PROGRAM.  1.  FOR THE
 PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE  THE  FOLLOWING
 MEANINGS:
   (A)  "ELIGIBLE  KITCHEN  UPGRADES"  SHALL MEAN PURCHASE OF NEW KITCHEN
 APPLIANCES, KITCHEN RENOVATIONS, OR OTHER  IMPROVEMENTS  TO  A  SCHOOL'S
 KITCHEN  THAT  THE COMMISSIONER DETERMINES QUALIFY FOR A GRANT UNDER THE
 PROGRAM.
 S. 6668                             3

   (B) "PROGRAM" MEANS THE  HEALTHY  KITCHENS,  HEALTHY  SCHOOLS  PROGRAM
 ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH A "HEALTHY KITCHENS, HEALTHY SCHOOLS
 PROGRAM" UNDER WHICH GRANTS SHALL BE AWARDED TO SCHOOLS IN THE STATE FOR
 ELIGIBLE  KITCHEN UPGRADES. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
 REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE  GRANTS  UNDER  THE  PROGRAM,  WHICH
 SHALL  PRIORITIZE SCHOOLS THAT LACK EXISTING FACILITIES TO PROVIDE HEAL-
 THY LUNCHES TO STUDENTS.
   3. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ENSURE THAT  EVERY  SCHOOL  DEEMED  ELIGIBLE
 UNDER  SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF  THIS SECTION SHALL RECEIVE SUFFICIENT GRANT
 FUNDING UNDER THE PROGRAM FOR REQUESTED ELIGIBLE  KITCHEN  UPGRADES.  IF
 THE  COMMISSIONER  DETERMINES THAT ADEQUATE FUNDS DO NOT EXIST TO ENSURE
 SUCH SUFFICIENT GRANT FUNDING, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO
 THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER  OF
 THE  ASSEMBLY,  DETAILING  THE FUNDS NEEDED, AND REQUESTING AN APPROPRI-
 ATION TO BE MADE THEREFOR.
   4. THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE ANY RULE OR REGULATION
 NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   § 4. The education law is amended by adding a  new  section  915-c  to
 read as follows:
   §  915-C.  LIMITING SUGAR CONTENT OF SCHOOL MEALS. EVERY SCHOOL IN THE
 STATE SHALL PLAN THE MEALS IT PROVIDES TO  STUDENTS  IN  A  MANNER  THAT
 PREVENTS  STUDENTS  FROM  CONSUMING MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE GRAMS OF ADDED
 SUGARS IN A DAY FROM SUCH SCHOOL MEALS. SUCH MEALS SHALL BE PLANNED IN A
 MANNER UNDER WHICH A STUDENT RECEIVING A BREAKFAST MEAL AND  LUNCH  MEAL
 AT  A  SCHOOL  IN  THE SAME DAY SHALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE ANY
 AVAILABLE BREAKFAST MEAL OPTION AND ANY AVAILABLE LUNCH MEAL OPTION  FOR
 SUCH DAY, AND ANY SUCH COMBINATION OF SUCH BREAKFAST MEAL AND LUNCH MEAL
 OPTIONS WOULD NOT EXCEED TWENTY-FIVE GRAMS OF ADDED SUGARS.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S6668

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S6668

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Sponsored By

Mark Walczyk

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S6668 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments