BILL ANALYSIS
By: Raymond
Border & International Affairs
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Student populations along the Texas-Mexico border suffer from high rates of Type 2 Diabetes and are at an increased risk for becoming obese. Hospitalization rates relating to this condition in the Texas-Mexico border region are very high for Hispanics.
According to a report by the Social Health & Research Center in San Antonio, more than thirty percent of all Laredo elementary school children suffer from obesity. An evidence based and culturally appropriate coordinated health school program is necessary in border communities to educate the area about the unhealthy trends that are occurring.
C.S.H.B. 3618 will implement a bilingual coordinated health program in certain school districts along the border. The bill requires the commissioner of Education to adopt a health program which will coordinate social systems that influence physical education, health class, food service, and parent/family awareness.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the opinion of the committee that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 3618 amends the Education Code to require the commissioner, in consultation with the Department of State Health Services, to adopt criteria requiring at least one coordinated health program designed, as provided by this Act, to prevent and detect obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in certain school districts. Furthermore, the Act sets forth provisions for the coordinated health program.
The substitute provides for the required implementation of a coordinated health program for certain school districts and requires the Department of State Health Services to distribute money for the implementation of the coordinated health program.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
C.S.H.B 3618 differs from the original by requiring the commissioner of Education to consult with the Department of State Health Services when adopting criteria regarding the provisions of this Act. The substitute also applies the provisions of this Act to a school district located in a municipality that has a population greater than 11,900 and is located within one-half mile of an international border.
The committee substitute also requires the Department of State Health Services to distribute money to each school district that is required to implement a coordinated health program.