Section 1: Purpose and Intent
The purpose of this law is to ensure that children in foster care receive adequate nutrition from fruits and vegetables each day.
It is the intent of the legislature to promote the health and well-being of children in foster care and to provide them with a healthy diet that supports their growth and
development.
Section 2: Definitions
(a) "Foster care" means the placement of a child in the care and custody of a foster family, group home,
or other child welfare agency licensed by the state.
(b) "Fruits and vegetables" means any food that is derived from a plant and that is eaten as part of a
meal or as a snack, including but not limited to fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables,
including those in their natural juices with no added sugar, syrup, or other sweeteners. This definition
excludes processed fruits and vegetables, such as fruit snacks, fruit roll-ups and vegetable chips.
Section 3: Nutritional Standards for Children in Foster care:
(a) Children in foster care shall receive at least two servings of fruits and two servings of vegetables each
day.
(b) The servings shall be age-appropriate and consistent with the recommended daily allowances
established by the United States Department of Agriculture.
(c) The servings shall be provided as part of meals and snacks that are provided to the children in foster
care.
Section 4: Reporting Requirements
(a) Child welfare agencies shall report annually to the legislature on the implementation of this law.
(b) The report shall include information on the number of children in foster care who received the
required servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and any challenges encountered in meeting the
requirements of this law.
Section 5: Enforcement
(a) The department of health shall enforce this law.
(b) Any child welfare agency or foster home found to be in violation of this law may be subject to
penalties, including fines or suspension or revocation of their license.
Section 6: Effective Date
This law shall take effect on January 1 of the year following its passage.