S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10600
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                May 8, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  GOTTFRIED  --  read once and referred to the
   Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  requiring  public
   schools to offer plant-based food options in food service
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section  915-a
 to read as follows:
   §  915-A.  PLANT-BASED  FOOD  OPTIONS. 1. UPON REQUEST BY A STUDENT OR
 PERSON IN PARENTAL RELATION TO THE STUDENT, EVERY  PUBLIC  SCHOOL  SHALL
 OFFER  THE  STUDENT A PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO EVERY
 MEAL OR SNACK OFFERED IN FOOD SERVICE TO THE  STUDENT.  THE  PLANT-BASED
 FOOD OPTION SHALL BE OFFERED AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE STUDENT BEYOND
 WHAT WOULD BE CHARGED FOR A COMPARABLE NON-PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION.
   2.  THE  SCHOOL  SHALL  RESPOND IN A REASONABLE MANNER AND TIME TO ANY
 REQUEST MADE UNDER THIS SECTION,  CONSISTENT  WITH  GUIDANCE  BY  SCHOOL
 AUTHORITIES.  THE  REQUEST  SHALL  BE EFFECTIVE FOR EVERY SCHOOL MEAL OR
 SNACK IN WHICH THE STUDENT IS REASONABLY EXPECTED TO  PARTICIPATE.  THIS
 SECTION  DOES  NOT  PRECLUDE THE OFFERING OF PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTIONS TO
 STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT REQUESTED IT, AND DOES NOT PRECLUDE AN  INDIVIDUAL
 WHO  HAS REQUESTED A PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION FROM SELECTING A NON-PLANT-
 BASED FOOD OPTION.
   3. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
   (A) "PLANT-BASED FOOD OPTION" MEANS FOOD OR BEVERAGES THAT ARE FREE OF
 ANIMAL PRODUCTS AND, AS RELATES TO THE  "PROTEIN"  PORTION  OF  A  MEAL,
 RECOGNIZED  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES  DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AS A MEAT
 ALTERNATE FOR PURPOSES OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM.
   (B) "ANIMAL PRODUCT" MEANS MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD, DAIRY, EGGS, HONEY,
 AND ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF.
   4. IN IMPLEMENTING THIS SECTION, THE  SCHOOL  AND  SCHOOL  AUTHORITIES
 SHALL  CONSULT  WITH  THE  SCHOOL  DISTRICT NUTRITION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
 UNDER SECTION NINE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN OF THIS ARTICLE, WHERE APPLICABLE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to  public
 school  food  service  beginning with the school year, as defined in the
 education law, beginning one year after it shall have become a law.
 
              
             
                          
                  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15710-02-8