SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A bill that would require some restaurant chains to post calorie information on menus was approved by the state Senate on Sunday, officials said.

The bill -- proposed by state Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, -- will now go to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk.

"The way Californians order food at restaurants is about to change. If signed by the governor, more than 17,000 restaurant locations throughout California will be posting calorie information on menus and menu boards by Jan. 1, 2011," Padilla said.

The bill would require restaurants with more than 20 locations to post calorie information on their menus and indoor menu boards.

In 2005, the California Department of Health Services estimated that obesity alone cost California at least $8.4 billion annually in medical care, workers compensation and lost productivity.

"I believe that SB 1420 is a bill the governor can sign," Padilla said. "I am optimistic that all Californians will soon benefit from reliable, accessible nutrition information at the point of sale that will help them make more informed, healthier choices."