Senate Education Committee Defeats Legislation to Ban Soda Sales at Schools
The Senate Education Committee yesterday defeated a bill (SB 1520) that would have banned the sale of soda in public schools, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports. The committee voted 6-1 in favor of the legislation, which required eight votes to pass (Frith, AP/Contra Costa Times, 5/22). The bill, proposed by Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) to help improve nutrition among students, would have banned soda sales on school campuses within five years (Los Angeles Times, 5/22). The soda industry, which opposed the legislation, said that the bill would "limit the choice of people to eat and drink what they want," and the California Teachers Association said that the legislation would eliminate funds that schools receive from contracts with soda companies (AP/Contra Costa Times, 5/22). Ortiz said that she plans to introduce similar legislation next year (Los Angeles Times, 5/22).
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