SRC-MKV H.C.R. 223 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.C.R. 223
77R12321 MKS-DBy: Coleman (Moncrief)
Health & Human Services
5/9/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Diets deficient in calcium are associated with many health disorders such
as osteoporosis, hypertension, preeclampsia, and colon cancer. The National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development concludes that inadequate
calcium consumption among children and adolescents is a growing problem and
a serious threat to their later health, growth, and development. According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the diets of more than
50 percent of children are calcium deficient, and only 13 percent of
teenage girls consume enough calcium to develop strong bones that support
full growth. Many children and adolescents have calcium deficient diets as
a result of consuming foods and beverages that are low in calcium and
drinking soft drinks that rob the body of calcium or increase the need for
calcium. 


PURPOSE 

As proposed, H.C.R. 223 submits the following resolutions:

Provides that the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas directs the Texas
Department of Health to prepare a list of available foods and beverages
fortified with calcium and vitamin D and to forward the list and this
resolution to the Texas Education Agency, each school superintendent,
school board, Parent-Teacher Association, and each primary and secondary
school.  Requires the secretary of state to forward an official copy of
this resolution to the chair of the Texas Board of Health, to the
commissioner of health of the Texas Department of Health, to the
commissioner of education of the Texas Education Agency, and to every
school superintendent, school board, and Parent-Teacher Association in the
state.