Public contracts: healthy and sustainable food.

Existing law regulates various aspects of the provision of food and beverages in vending machines, including requiring a vendor that operates or maintains a vending machine on designated state property to offer food and beverages in the vending machine that meet accepted nutritional guidelines, as defined, in accordance with certain content percentages. Existing law governing contracting between state agencies and private contractors sets forth requirements for the procurement of supplies, materials, equipment, and services by state agencies and sets forth the various responsibilities of the Department of General Services and other state agencies in overseeing and implementing state contracting procedures and policies. This bill would require that at least 50% of the food offered by a vendor in a vending machine on state property, as defined, meet accepted nutritional guidelines by January 1, 2015. The bill would then require 75% compliance with accepted nutritional guidelines by January 1, 2016, and 100% compliance by January 1, 2017. On and after January 1, 2016, the bill would also require that 100% of beverages offered by a vendor in a vending machine on state property also meet the accepted nutritional guidelines. The bill would revise the definition of accepted nutritional guidelines for this purpose. The bill would also require, on and after January 1, 2015, or upon expiration of an existing contract, whichever occurs later, any food or beverages sold in a state-owned or state-leased building to meet the standard criteria for food and nutrition guidelines for concessions as determined under the United States General Services Administration's Health and Sustainability Guidelines for Federal Concessions and Vending Operations. The bill would also encourage vendors that operate or maintain vending machines on, and vendors of food concessions or cafeterias in, state-owned or state-leased property and buildings to sell food and beverage items that meet specified criteria.