By:  Nelson, et al.                                     S.B. No. 19
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the improvement of children's health through daily
 1-3     physical activity in public schools and a coordinated approach by
 1-4     public schools to prevent obesity and certain diseases.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
 1-7     adding Subsection (l) to read as follows:
 1-8           (l)  The State Board of Education by rule may require a
 1-9     student enrolled in kindergarten or a grade level below grade seven
1-10     in an elementary school setting to participate in daily physical
1-11     activity as part of a school district's physical education
1-12     curriculum.  If the board adopts rules under this subsection, the
1-13     board must provide for an exemption for a student who is unable to
1-14     participate in daily physical activity because of illness or
1-15     disability.
1-16           SECTION 2.  Chapter 38, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-17     Section 38.013 to read as follows:
1-18           Sec. 38.013.  COORDINATED HEALTH PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY
1-19     SCHOOL STUDENTS.  (a)  The agency shall make available to each
1-20     school district a coordinated health program designed to prevent
1-21     obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Type II diabetes in elementary
1-22     school students.  The program must provide for coordinating:
1-23                 (1)  health education;
1-24                 (2)  physical education and physical activity;
1-25                 (3)  nutrition services; and
 2-1                 (4)  parental involvement.
 2-2           (b)  The agency shall notify each school district of the
 2-3     availability of the program.
 2-4           SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
 2-5     school year.
 2-6           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-7     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-8     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-9     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-10     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.