To amend section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a pilot program that requires schools to post nutritional content information regarding foods served at schools and to teach students how to make healthy food selections, and for other purposes.

Summary: Healthy Food Choices for Kids Act - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to award grants to up to 10 states and, through them, subgrants to up to 10 schools in each of those states for a pilot program requiring schools to: (1) post nutritional content information in school cafeterias regarding the food they serve; and (2) teach students how to make healthy food selections.

Requires the Secretary to encourage such schools to post the nutritional content information, including caloric information, on their websites.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Healthy Food Choices for Kids Act''.

SEC. 2. SCHOOL LUNCH LABELING AND NUTRITIONAL AWARENESS PILOT PROGRAM.

    Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769) is amended by adding at the end the following--
    ``(j) School Lunch Labeling and Nutritional Awareness Pilot 
Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of funds 
        under paragraph (7), the Secretary shall award grants to not 
        more than 10 States to assist not more than 10 schools in each 
        of such States in carrying out a pilot program in accordance 
        with paragraph (5) that requires schools--
                    ``(A) to post nutritional content information in 
                school cafeterias regarding the food items served in 
                the cafeterias; and
                    ``(B) to teach students about how to make healthy 
                food selections.
            ``(2) Grant amounts.--The Secretary shall ensure that each 
        grant awarded is of sufficient size and scope to carry out the 
        pilot program described in this subsection.
            ``(3) Duration of grants.--The Secretary may award grants 
        for multiple years to States that meet the grant requirements 
        described in paragraph (4).
            ``(4) Grant requirements.--To qualify to receive a grant 
        under this subsection, a State shall submit an application to 
        the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information and assurances as the Secretary may require, 
        including--
                    ``(A) an assurance that the State will ensure that 
                each school awarded a subgrant under this subsection 
                meets the pilot program requirements described in 
                paragraph (5) within 1 year of such subgrant award;
                    ``(B) a plan to inform all the schools within the 
                State about the pilot program and the school 
                application requirements described in paragraph (5);
                    ``(C) an assurance that the State will use not less 
                than 95 percent of the grant funds to award subgrants 
                to schools in accordance with this subsection;
                    ``(D) an assurance that the State will award such 
                subgrants to at least 3, but not more than 5, schools 
                in such State that have in effect at the date of the 
                enactment of this subsection a program to provide 
                nutritional content information regarding food items 
                served in the cafeterias of such schools to students 
                attending such schools; and
                    ``(E) an assurance that the State will award such 
                subgrants to at least 3, but not more than 5, schools 
                that are located in the rural areas of such State.
            ``(5) Subgrant requirements.--To qualify to receive a 
        subgrant under this subsection, a school shall submit an 
        application to a State receiving a grant under this subsection 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
        and assurances as the Secretary may require, including--
                    ``(A) a plan for implementing the pilot program, 
                including--
                            ``(i) efforts to ensure that nutritional 
                        content information, including caloric 
                        information, regarding the food items served in 
                        the school's cafeteria is posted in a visible 
                        location at the point of decision in the 
                        cafeteria and that such information is readable 
                        and appropriate for the students who attend the 
                        school and the parents or legal guardians of 
                        such students;
                            ``(ii) efforts to develop and implement, or 
                        expand a school wellness program or other 
                        nutritional awareness program in effect at the 
                        date of enactment of this subsection to include 
                        an educational program to teach students at the 
                        school about making healthy food selections; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) efforts to consult with a licensed 
                        nutritionist, registered dietitian, school 
                        nutrition specialist, or professional with 
                        similar qualifications at least once a year 
                        regarding the pilot program requirements 
                        described in clauses (i) and (ii) and any 
                        related nutritional matters;
                    ``(B) a certification of support for participation 
                in the pilot program signed by the school food manager, 
                school nurse, school principal, and district 
                superintendent (or equivalent positions, as determined 
                by the school); and
                    ``(C) whether the school plans to post the 
                nutritional content information described in 
                subparagraph (A)(i) on the school's website.
            ``(6) Guidance; encouragement.--
                    ``(A) Guidance.--The Secretary shall provide 
                guidance to the States and schools receiving grants or 
                subgrants under this subsection to assist such States 
                and schools in meeting the requirements of this 
                subsection.
                    ``(B) Encouragement.--The Secretary shall encourage 
                schools receiving subgrants under this subsection to 
                post the nutritional content information, including 
                caloric information, regarding food items served at the 
                school on the school's website.
            ``(7) Reports.--
                    ``(A) Each State receiving grant funds under this 
                subsection shall submit a report at such time, in such 
                manner, and containing such information as the 
                Secretary may require.
                    ``(B) Not later than 1 year after the effective 
                date of this subsection and every 2 years thereafter, 
                the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on 
                Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and 
                the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry of 
                the Senate that contains--
                            ``(i) the number of schools receiving 
                        subgrants under this subsection; and
                            ``(ii) a detailed description of the status 
                        of the pilot program carried out by each school 
                        under this subsection, including a list of 
                        program accomplishments and challenges, and an 
                        evaluation of the effectiveness of the program, 
                        in each school.
            ``(8) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated such funds as necessary to carry 
        out this subsection.
            ``(9) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Licensed nutritionist.--The term `licensed 
                nutritionist' means any person who meets the 
                educational and training requirements under applicable 
                State law and the credentialing requirements of the 
                applicable professional association, if any, to become 
                a licensed nutritionist.
                    ``(B) Registered dietitian.--The term `registered 
                dietitian' means any person who meets the educational 
                and training requirements to become credentialed as a 
                registered dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic 
                Registration.
                    ``(C) School nutrition specialist.--The term 
                `school nutrition specialist' means any person who 
                meets the educational and training requirements to 
                become credentialed as a school nutrition specialist by 
                the School Nutrition Association.''.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.