(1) The Office of Healthy Schools of the State Department of Education shall develop and implement the Healthier School Initiative, consistent with the HealthierUS School Challenge developed by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered through its Food and Nutrition Service, to facilitate healthy choices and practices by local school districts through the promotion of healthier school environments. The office shall establish standard procedures to be adhered to by schools electing to participate in the program and shall establish a deadline for the submission of applications for participation in the initiative.

(2) Subject to the availability of funds whether appropriated by the Legislature, in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00), or received as gifts, bequests, endowments or grants from any public or private source, the Office of Healthy Schools shall provide financial incentives to schools receiving recognition through the HealthierUS School Challenge for purposes of funding the resources and staff training needed to meet healthy eating, nutrition education and physical education guidelines. The department shall allocate the funds to schools receiving recognition in the following amounts:

(a) Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) shall be awarded to schools receiving the Bronze Award level of recognition;

(b) Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) shall be awarded to schools receiving Silver Award level of recognition;

(c) Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) shall be awarded to schools receiving Gold Award level of recognition; and

(d) Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00) shall be awarded to schools receiving Gold Award of Distinction level of recognition.

(3) The Office of Healthy Schools shall require local school districts to include information relevant to the HealthierUS School Challenge on their district Web sites and shall provide technical assistance to schools that elect to participate in the challenge to become a HealthierUS School. The office shall require participating schools to:

(a) Enroll as a Team Nutrition School;

(b) Offer reimbursable lunches that demonstrate healthy menu planning practices and principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and that meet United States Department of Agriculture nutrition standards;

(c) Provide nutrition education to students;

(d) Provide students with physical education and the opportunity for physical activity;

(e) Maintain an average daily participation of school enrollment for reimbursable lunches; and

(f) Adhere to guidelines established by Food and Nutrition Service for foods served and/or sold in schools outside the National School Lunch Program.

(4) To be eligible for participation, a school must:

(a) Be a public elementary or secondary school;

(b) Participate in the National School Lunch Program;

(c) Be enrolled in United States Department of Agriculture Team Nutrition; and

(d) Submit an application to the United States Department of Agriculture.

(5) Application for certification as a HealthierUS School must be submitted to the State Department of Education for review by the Office of Healthy Schools, which, upon its approval, shall forward the applications to the United States Department of Agriculture for consideration. Any application that is not approved based on standards for submission established by the Office of Healthy Schools shall be returned with instructions for modification and resubmission by the submitting school.