BILL NUMBER: S2087
SPONSOR: KAVANAGH
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the
labeling of high-sugar beverages with warnings
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Requires a safety warning label on certain sugar-sweetened beverages,
concentrates used to make sugar-sweetened beverages, beverage dispensing
machines, and vending machines that dispense sugar-sweetened beverages,
online menus, and online food delivery softwares that all sugar-sweet-
ened beverages in order to increase public awareness regarding the
health ailments associated with consumption of sugar sweetened beverag-
es, especially obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill sets forth the short title of the bill, which is
the "sugar-sweetened beverages safety warning act."
Section two of the bill adds § 204-e to the agriculture and markets law
to provide for definitions relating to the implementation of this act,
the labeling requirements for sealed beverage containers, multipacks of
sugar-sweetened beverages in sealed beverage containers, concentrates,
vending machines, beverages dispensing machines, online menus and sale
of sugar sweetened beverages on online delivery services. This section
also provides for concurrent enforcement, including certain penalty
provisions, while also providing for clarification of violations as they
relate to certain retailers.
Section three of the bill is a severability clause.
Section four of the bill sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The prevalence of obesity in the state has increased dramatically over
the past 30 years. It is of particular concern because obesity is asso-
ciated with health ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis,
asthma, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and certain types of
cancer.
Medical costs are also a growing concern. Overweight and obesity account
for $147 billion in health care costs nationally, or 9 percent of all
medical spending, with one-half of these costs paid publicly through
Medicare and Medicaid programs which put a strain on the state's
resources. Individuals who drink one to two sugar sweetened beverages
per day have a 26 percent higher risk for developing type II diabetes.
Sugar sweetened beverages are a unique contributor to excess caloric
consumption. Extensive research has also shown that there is a link
between obesity, tooth decay, and diabetes to the consumption of sweet-
ened beverages such as soft drinks, energy drinks, sweet teas, and
sports drinks. Providing consumers with concrete information will allow
them to make more informed choices about the products they consume, such
as sugar-sweetened beverages.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S8386 (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE /A685B (Dinowitz) -
referred to consumer affairs and protection
2023: A685B (Dinowitz) - referred to consumer affairs and protection
2022: S2540 (Rivera) - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE /A1000 (Dinowitz) -
referred to consumer affairs and protection
2021: S2540 (Rivera) - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE /A1000 (Dinowitz) -
referred to consumer affairs and protection
2020: S473 (Rivera) - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE /A2473 (Dinowitz) -
referred to consumer affairs and protection
2019: S473 (Rivera) - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE /A2473 (Dinowitz) -
referred to consumer affairs and protection
2018: S162 (Rivera) - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE /A5239 (Dinowitz) -
referred
2017: S162 (Rivera) - REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE /A5239 (Dinowitz) -
reported referred to codes
2016: S6435 (Rivera) - DEFEATED IN AGRICULTURE /A2320B (Dinowitz) -
reported referred to rules
2015: A2320B (Dinowitz) - reported referred to codes
2014: A10172 (Camara) - referred to consumer affairs and protection
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after becoming law.