Substitute Senate Bill 210 Summary

• Establishes the Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Council with 20 members from various health, education, and business organizations to monitor student health, review nutritional standards, and develop best practices clearinghouse for schools.

• Requires schools to conduct body mass index screenings for students in kindergarten, 3rd, 5th, and 9th grades with parental opt-out provisions, and mandates schools report aggregated data to the Department of Health.

• Creates a voluntary pilot program beginning 2011-2012 school year requiring participating schools to provide students in grades K-12 at least 30 minutes of daily moderate to rigorous physical activity during the school day, excluding recess.

• Establishes nutritional standards for beverages sold on school premises during regular and extended school days, including restrictions on sugary drinks and requirements for water and low-calorie alternatives based on grade level.

• Requires schools to adopt nutrition standards for all foods sold on premises, consult with licensed dietitians, and ensures at least 20-40% of a la carte food items meet highest nutritional ratings using USDA dietary guidelines.

• Mandates new physical education teachers hired on or after July 1, 2013, hold valid licensure in physical education, and adds nutrition instruction requirements to high school health curriculum.