BILL ANALYSIS
|
Senate Research Center |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 1018 is intended to empower parents to enact policies in their children’s school districts to increase physical activity and improve fitness.
School health advisory councils (SHACs) are parent-led, school district-level committees that advise school boards on issues related to student health. SHACs are currently required to make recommendations to school boards on the appropriate curriculum for specific grade levels designed to prevent obesity and related chronic diseases.
H.B. 1018 will require SHACs to establish subcommittees to make specific recommendations to school boards on strategies to increase physical activity and improve fitness among students; require SHACs to recommend, if feasible, joint use agreements and other strategies for collaboration between the school district and community organizations; require the annual report that SHACs currently submit to school boards to include any recommendations made by the physical activity and fitness planning subcommittee; and require any joint use agreement that a school district and a community organization enter into, based on a recommendation of the SHAC, to address liability for the school district and the community organization.
H.B. 1018 amends current law relating to the establishment of community partnerships and the development of policy recommendations for increasing physical activity and improving fitness among public school students.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 28.004, Education Code, by amending Subsections (c) and (m) and adding Subsections (l-1) and (n), as follows:
(c) Provides that the duties of the local school health advisory council (advisory council) include making certain recommendations, including recommending, if feasible, joint use agreements or strategies for collaboration between the school district and community organizations or agencies. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(l-1) Requires the advisory council to establish a physical activity and fitness planning subcommittee to consider issues relating to student physical activity and fitness and make policy recommendations to increase physical activity and improve fitness among students.
(m) Requires the advisory council, in addition to performing other duties, to submit to the board of trustees, at least annually, a written report that includes certain information, including any recommendations made by the physical activity and fitness planning subcommittee. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(n) Requires that any joint use agreement that a school district and community organization or agency enter into based on a recommendation of the advisory council under Subsection (c)(5) (relating to providing that the advisory council's duties include recommending, if feasible, joint use agreements or strategies for collaboration between the school district and community organizations or agencies) address liability for the school district and community organization or agency in the agreement.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2013.