A bill to improve the effectiveness and coordination of nutrition education.

To improve the effectiveness and coordination of nutrition education. 1. Training and technical assistance (a) Study The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this Act as the Secretary (1) the use of State administrative expense funds by State agencies; (2) the innovative, effective, and replicable policies, practices, and training methods that are being implemented using State administrative expense funds; (3) the factors that interfere with the ability of a State agency to use State administrative expense funds effectively; and (4) the ways in which the administrative expense funds of a State are being used to encourage the implementation of effective and consistent school nutrition workforce training and technical assistance, with particular emphasis on improving the implementation of— (A) nutrition standards for meals provided under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq. National School Lunch Act 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq. (B) nutrition standards for foods sold in schools other than the meals provided under the Acts described in subparagraph (A); (C) local school wellness policies; (D) up-to-date professional standards for school nutrition professionals; and (E) such other school food service practices, standards, and operational requirements as the Secretary determines necessary. (b) Report to Congress Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes— (1) a summary of the study conducted under subsection (a); (2) any findings and recommendations made as part of the study; and (3) a plan for disseminating to State agencies best practices for the use of State administrative expense funds for training and technical assistance. (c) Funding To conduct the study described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall use existing funds of the Department of Agriculture. 2. Effectiveness and coordination of nutrition education (a) Study The Secretary, acting through the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, shall conduct a study on the effectiveness and level of coordination between nutrition education in the child nutrition programs and other programs implemented by the Federal Government that include nutrition education. (b) Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes— (1) a summary of the study conducted under subsection (a); (2) any findings and recommendations made as part of the study; and (3) a plan for disseminating to State agencies best practices for nutrition education delivery and coordination. (c) Funding To conduct the study described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall use existing funds of the Department of Agriculture.

Summary: This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to study and report to Congress on state administrative expense funds, including: the use of the funds by state agencies; policies, practices, and training methods being implemented using the funds; factors that interfere with the ability of a state agency to use the funds effectively; and ways the funds are being used to encourage the implementation of effective and consistent school nutrition workforce training and technical assistance. USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion must study and report to Congress on the effectiveness and level of coordination between nutrition education in the child nutrition programs and other federal programs that include nutrition education.