Louisiana § RS 17:195.2 - Lifestyle choices pilot program

§ RS 17:195.2. Lifestyle choices pilot program

            A. The legislature finds that:

            (1) Children can make more healthy choices with increased access to fresh, unprocessed produce; whole, healthy grains; and lean sources of protein that all contribute to a balanced diet.

            (2) Offering healthier options to children is one way to get students involved in nutrition.

            (3) Some students do not get well-rounded meals at home, which makes the food they eat at school even more significant.

            (4) School lunches should be composed of more health-conscious food and less processed food.

            (5) Louisiana students need a base of healthy eating habits that include eating lean meats, fish, fresh produce, and dairy and an understanding of the food pyramid.

            B.(1) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, shall develop and implement a program whereby fresh food is incorporated into school-provided lunches at certain schools. The state Department of Education shall administer the program, the purpose of which is assisting school and school food service personnel to identify and utilize all available resources to increase the variety of healthy food options in school nutrition programs.

            (2) The state Department of Education shall identify and select public school governing authorities for operation of a pilot program as defined by this Section.

            (3) The state Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry shall collaboratively:

            (a) Provide an inventory of food distribution companies with which public schools or school districts may contract.

            (b) Disseminate procurement guidelines, school food safety information, and liability insurance requirements to food distribution companies that can potentially contract with schools and school districts for the implementation of the pilot program.

            (c) Consult with the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, the Southern University Agricultural Center, the Louisiana Farm to School Alliance, and other stakeholders, as necessary.

            C. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the state Department of Education shall utilize existing personnel and resources for the development, implementation, and administration of this program.

            Acts 2022, No. 709, §1.