BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 912
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 6, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 912 (Mitchell) - As Amended: April 21, 2014
Policy Committee: B&P Vote:11-1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill repeals the January 1, 2015 sunset date for requiring
operators of vending machines on state property to offer at
least 35% of food products and approximately 66% of beverages in
each vending machine that meet specified nutritional guidelines
and standards.
FISCAL EFFECT
As the current requirements have been in place for several
years, neither removing nor extending the nutrition requirements
are likely to have any significant fiscal impact on vending
machine sales or on special fund revenue to the Vending Stand
Fund (VSF) and the Business Enterprise Vending Machine Account
(BEVMA).
The state Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) administers the
operation of concessions, including vending machines located on
state property through the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and
through a contracting program. Concessions are operated by blind
vendors. Revenues are deposited into the VSF and the BEVMA in
the Special Deposit Fund.
The department indicates that revenues attributable to the
operation of vending machines on state property were over $9.5
million in the most recent fiscal year, resulting in deposits of
over $510,000 to the VSF. These amounts do not include vending
machines on state property which are combined with cafeterias,
snack bars, or vending stands, nor do they include vending
routes that contain a combination of state, federal, or county
locations, all of which could not be determined. The department
also indicates that commissions from state locations resulted in
SB 912
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deposits of $176,303 to the BEVMA.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . According to the author's office, "[This bill] simply
preserves current law by removing the sunset on the required
nutritional guidelines, thereby providing consumers with the
continued opportunity to make healthy choices. California is
in the midst of an obesity and diabetes epidemic and now is
not the time to abandon this modest but important policy.
More than half of adults and teens in the state are either
overweight or obese?Nearly half of our waking hours are spent
at the workplace, and the foods available in employee
cafeterias, vending machines, and work-sponsored events
frequently determine what people eat throughout the day.
Healthier food options in state buildings will help reduce the
prevalence and cost of diet-related diseases, while promoting
the well-being of state employees and the general public."
2)Prior Legislation . In 2013, AB 459 (Mitchell), which would
have required that the percentage of food products in state
vending machines increased over three years to 100%, was held
on this committee's Suspense File.
In 2012, AB 727 (Mitchell), which would have required that the
percentage of food products in state vending machines increase
to 50%, was held on Suspense in Senate Appropriations.
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081