May 08, 2015
Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill Thursday that would require more than 500 school districts in New Jersey to provide students with special menu options, the Courier-Post reports.
The meal choices would include "culturally sensitive" options, as well as vegetarian and vegan selections.
Advocates said the measure, overwhelming approved by the Legislature, would benefit students whose diets reflect religious or cultural restrictions. Among other provisions, it would have required districts to make "all reasonable efforts" to offer hot and cold vegetarian and vegan choices if requested by a student.
Christie, however, argued that the measure "would unnecessarily burden" school districts across the state.
"In light of the many challenges school districts already encounter in order to provide an education worthy of our children's future, I cannot support the additional costs and burdens this bill would impose," Christie said in a statement.
Christie noted that districts would need to conduct "food surveys" of students. They would also have to form an advisory committee if a student indicated an "unmet food preference."
Read more from the Courier-Post.
