AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Interested parties identify oral health as a vital component of students' overall health and well-being, but contend that it is an often overlooked or undervalued component of health care. H.B.  2483 seeks to integrate oral health into coordinated school health program models for public elementary, middle, and junior high school students, with the intention of having beneficial, long-term effects on students' overall well-being.

 

H.B. 2483 amends current law relating to including oral health education as part of the coordinated health program for public elementary, middle, and junior high 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 38.013(a), Education Code, as follows:

 

(a)  Requires the Texas Education Agency to make available to each school district one or more coordinated health programs designed to prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease, oral diseases, and Type 2 diabetes in elementary school, middle school, and junior high school students. Requires that each program provide for coordinating health education, including oral health education, physical education and physical activity, nutrition services, and parental involvement.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.