85R12557 MEW-D

By: Lucio S.B. No. 1692

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of a nutrition education task force.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that:

(1) providing nutrition education in public schools is an important means to improve the health and extend the lives of inhabitants of this state;

(2) poor eating habits and lack of physical activity increase the likelihood of poor educational outcomes, which has a direct impact on the future of this state;

(3) nutrition education is offered in most public schools traditionally as part of the curriculum for health classes, but the proportion of student participation at each grade level is unknown;

(4) nutrition education offered in public schools can be improved and further coordinated:

(A) across different subject areas in the existing curriculum for all grade levels; and

(B) through school meal programs;

(5) this state and students enrolled in public school in this state would greatly benefit if this state became an innovative leader in nutrition education;

(6) improving the health of the inhabitants of this state would reduce the consequences of poor nutrition, including associated illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, and related social anxiety mental illnesses; and

(7) to address illnesses associated with poor nutrition, this state should focus on increasing awareness of nutrition in public schools.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 28.0042 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.0042. NUTRITION EDUCATION TASK FORCE. (a) The commissioner shall create a nutrition education task force to develop policy recommendations regarding nutrition education in public schools, including how to:

(1) increase awareness of students in kindergarten through 12th grade of good nutrition;

(2) assist students in developing healthy eating habits; and

(3) address illnesses developed from poor nutrition, including obesity and diabetes.

(b) The task force is composed of:

(1) the commissioner of education;

(2) the commissioner of state health services;

(3) the commissioner of agriculture;

(4) experts in nutrition; and

(5) any other health or education experts as determined by the commissioner of education, the commissioner of state health services, and the commissioner of agriculture.

(c) The commissioner of education shall serve as the presiding officer of the task force.

(d) A member of the task force may not receive compensation for serving on the task force.

(e) The task force must:

(1) identify and study the development of an age-appropriate curriculum for nutrition education in public schools that:

(A) increases student knowledge of appropriate nutrition; and

(B) provides proven strategies that influence student motivation, including strategies that:

(i) teach positive nutrition skills;

(ii) encourage healthy eating behaviors;

(iii) mitigate unhealthy attitudes; and

(iv) provide students the necessary tools to accomplish nutritional goals;

(2) assess existing nutrition education curriculum, resources, and initiatives in public schools that address illnesses caused by poor nutrition, including obesity and diabetes;

(3) develop recommendations, initiatives, and reforms that can be implemented to improve the success of nutrition education, resources, and materials designed to assist teachers in preparing nutrition education lessons;

(4) work with appropriate state and federal officials to develop reforms that:

(A) increase the effectiveness of public school meal programs; and

(B) encourage an active role in nutrition education, including providing:

(i) nutrient information for school meals;

(ii) nutrition education in the classroom; and

(iii) other educational activities, primarily in kindergarten through fifth grade, to increase awareness of nutrition benefits;

(5) develop recommendations relating to increasing the effectiveness of nutrition coordinators, including:

(A) reporting information regarding:

(i) the number of schools that have a nutrition coordinator; and

(ii) the role of the nutrition coordinator in integrating a nutrition curriculum;

(B) developing requirements for placing a nutrition coordinator on each public school campus;

(C) coordinating a nutrition curriculum that provides a coherent sequence of nutrition lessons for kindergarten through 12th grade; and

(D) integrating nutrition lessons:

(i) across different subject areas at the same grade level; and

(ii) in the classroom with related nonclassroom activities; and

(6) in the report required under Subsection (h), make specific recommendations for legislative and other actions, including budget-related recommendations regarding policy initiatives and reforms necessary to implement and increase nutrition education, awareness, and resources in public schools in kindergarten through 12th grade.

(f) State agencies shall cooperate with the task force as necessary.

(g) The task force shall meet not less than once each month. The task force may meet by telephone conference call, videoconference, or any similar telecommunication method.

(h) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, the task force shall prepare a report on the task force's recommendations and provide the report in writing or electronically to the governor and members of the legislature.

(i) At least every three years, the agency, the Department of State Health Services, and the Department of Agriculture shall review and, if necessary, revise any rules, recommendations, and policies implemented based on the recommendations of the task force.

SECTION 3. Not later than March 1, 2018, the Nutrition Education Task Force established under Section 28.0042, Education Code, as added by this Act, shall develop and submit to the Texas Education Agency, the Department of State Health Services, and the Department of Agriculture recommendations for implementation during the 2018-2019 school year.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.