House Bill 941

AN ACT TO LIMIT THE PRODUCTS THAT MAY BE SOLD THROUGH CERTAIN VENDING MACHINES ON PUBLIC SCHOOL CAMPUSES TO MILK, WATER, 100% NATURAL JUICES, FRESH OR DRIED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND WHOLE-GRAIN SNACKS; TO EXEMPT SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNDER CONTRACT FOR VENDING SERVICES FROM SUCH REQUIREMENTS UNTIL THE DATE THE VENDING CONTRACT EXPIRES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) In all public schools in this state which have vending machines on campus, only milk, water, one hundred percent (100%) natural juices, fresh or dried fruits and vegetables and whole-grain snacks may be sold in such machines. However, the requirements of this section do not apply to vending machines located in faculty or teachers' lounges or locations where only adults have access to the machines and vending machines operated only during athletic events.

(2) If, on July 1, 2006, a school district is under an existing contract with a company to provide vending services, the school district is exempt from complying with subsection (1) of this section, to the extent that the requirements of subsection (1) may violate the terms and conditions of the contract, until the date the contract expires. For purposes of this section, the date the contract expires is the ending date of the term of the contract in effect as of July 1, 2006, and does not include any period for which the contract is renewed or extended. After the date that the contract expires, the requirements set forth in subsection (1) are applicable to all schools in that district.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.