The California Healthy Choices Program.

Existing law requires the Department of Food and Agriculture, headed by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, to promote and protect the agricultural industry of the state. Existing law also establishes the California Healthy Food Financing Initiative for the purpose of promoting healthy food access in the state, and requires the department to implement the initiative. This bill would require the department to establish the California Healthy Choices Program to certify grocery stores, as defined, that promote healthy food choices. The bill would require the department to charge grocery stores that apply for certification a fee which would be deposited into the California Healthy Choices Program Fund, which would be established by this bill. Moneys in the fund would be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the department to promote the program. The bill would be implemented only after the Director of Finance makes a specified determination.