§ 6-16-126 - Food handling safety -- Instructional materials clearinghouse. - Arkansas Statutes

6-16-126. Food handling safety -- Instructional materials clearinghouse.

(a) The General Assembly finds and acknowledges that food-borne illness is a growing concern throughout the United States. The General Assembly also finds that school-age children may be particularly affected by food-borne illness due to their employment in fast food restaurants and due to preparation of food at home by students who have both parents working outside of the home. The General Assembly further finds that education in food-borne illness must be strengthened in public schools to ensure the health and safety of all children.

(b) (1) The Commissioner of Education shall provide a clearinghouse for instructional materials on food handling safety. These materials shall be developmentally appropriate for students at each of the three (3) grade clusters used in the Arkansas Health Framework: kindergarten through grade four (K-4); grades five through eight (5-8); and grades nine through twelve (9-12).

(2) The commissioner shall encourage collaborative efforts between the Department of Education and other agencies and organizations in accessing developmentally appropriate instructional materials on food handling safety.

(3) The commissioner shall ensure that any instructional materials on food handling safety accessible to public schools through this clearinghouse shall be in alignment with the Arkansas Health Framework in dealing with health promotion and disease prevention; health information, products, and services; health behaviors and health risks; health-enhancing skills, and personal, family, and community health.