Can you believe it’s June already? Time really flies when you’re having fun! May and June are busy months at the Capitol, and things tend to change VERY fast. In this post, I will provide a quick update on the status of AHA/ASA pending priority legislation.
The AHA/ASA is proud to sponsor SB 912 (Mitchell), and to work closely with the public health community supporting SB 1000 (Monning).
SB 912 (Mitchell) will maintain current nutritional standards in vending machines on state property by eliminating the sunset date on current law, set to expire January 1, 2015. This modest, yet important measure, will ensure that state employees and visitors to state property will continue to have healthy options available for purchase in vending machines.
SB 1000 (Monning) requires that a warning label be placed on certain containers of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). SSBs are classified as beverages that have added sugar and contain 75 calories or more per 12 ounces (or the equivalent amount). Did you know drinking just one soda a day increases an adult’s likelihood of being overweight by 27%, and for children that likelihood increases to 55%? In California, 41% of children and 62% of teens drink at least one SSB drink every day. The average adult in the United States consumes 45 gallons of SSBs each year. California is in the midst of an obesity epidemic, placing many Californians at an increased risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
A warning label will allow consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions, and is just one of many important public health policies to address the obesity epidemic.
SB 1000 passed off the Senate Floor on Thursday, May 29th on a vote of 21-13, and now awaits a hearing in the Assembly Health Committee on June 17th. SB 912 is scheduled for a vote in the Assembly Business, Professions, and Consumer Protection Committee on Tuesday, June 24th.
Please visit our Action Center to stay up-to-date on the progress of these two bills, and to find out ways in which you can help support the passage of these important public health policies with your action.
You’re the Cure!
Be the first to comment