BILL

INTRODUCED BY: Juliana Galvan

PURPOSE: To hold parents/guardians accountable for the obesity of their child; a crime.
TITLE: Parent Accountability of Child Obesity Act of 2016
SUMMARY: Aside from genetic and medical conditions, children can become obese under the supervision and
acknowledgement of their parent/guardian. Children who grow up obese do not grow up healthy and are not taught
proper health habits. This causes children to be obese for the majority of their life. This act holds the childs
parent/guardian responsible for the crime of allowing their child to become obese.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS
SECTION 1: The legislations finds and declares all of the following
(a)
Californias percentage of children, 2-17 years old, that are considered obese is 15.8%.
(b)
Obesity results in more deaths than those who are underweight.
(c )
Children who are obese often grow up obese and become victims of these risks: diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, stroke, some types of cancer, musculoskeletal
conditions, and premature death.
SECTION 2: Section 274 is added to the Penal Code, to read
(a)
Any parent/guardian that has a child or children from 2 to 17 years of age that is determined to be
obese by their Body Mass Index number 30 and above will be a culprit of child abuse and neglect. Along
with these charges, the parent/guardian will be required to take a class in child nutrition. If the
parent/guardian does not participate in the class, they will be fined $3,000. If the parent/guardian
participates in the class, but fails to improve the health of their child in the next 12 months after they
participate in the class, the child will be removed from the home by Child Protective Services. If the child's
health does improve after 12 months, they will be visited by Child Protective Services at the end of every
12 month period for the next 3 years.
(b)
School staff is required to report any obese student registered in the school to Child Protective
Services. If any child is failed to be reported to Child Protective Services for obesity, the school district
that the child belongs to will be held accountable and will subjected to a court hearing.
(c )
Children who are homeschooled will be required to visit their pediatrician annually. If their
pediatrician finds that the child is obese, they are required to report to Child Protective Services.