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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a nutrition education task force. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The legislature finds that: |
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(1) providing nutrition education in public schools is |
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an important means to improve the health and extend the lives of |
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inhabitants of this state; |
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(2) poor eating habits and lack of physical activity |
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increase the likelihood of poor educational outcomes, which has a |
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direct impact on the future of this state; |
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(3) nutrition education is offered in most public |
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schools traditionally as part of the curriculum for health classes, |
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but the proportion of student participation at each grade level is |
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unknown; |
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(4) nutrition education offered in public schools can |
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be improved and further coordinated: |
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(A) across different subject areas in the |
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existing curriculum for all grade levels; and |
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(B) through school meal programs; |
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(5) this state and students enrolled in public schools |
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in this state would greatly benefit if this state became an |
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innovative leader in nutrition education; |
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(6) improving the health of the inhabitants of this |
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state would reduce the consequences of poor nutrition, including |
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associated illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, and related social |
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anxiety mental illnesses; and |
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(7) to address illnesses associated with poor |
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nutrition, this state should focus on increasing awareness of |
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nutrition in public schools. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0042 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0042. NUTRITION EDUCATION TASK FORCE. (a) The |
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nutrition education task force is established to develop policy |
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recommendations regarding nutrition education in public schools, |
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including how to: |
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(1) increase awareness of students in kindergarten |
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through 12th grade of good nutrition; |
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(2) assist students in developing healthy eating |
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habits; and |
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(3) address illnesses developed from poor nutrition, |
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including obesity and diabetes. |
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(b) The task force is composed of: |
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(1) the commissioner of education or the |
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commissioner's designee; |
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(2) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission or the executive commissioner's designee; |
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(3) the commissioner of agriculture or the |
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commissioner's designee; |
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(4) experts in nutrition appointed jointly by the |
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commissioner of education, the executive commissioner of the Health |
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and Human Services Commission, and the commissioner of agriculture; |
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and |
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(5) any other health or education experts appointed |
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jointly as determined appropriate by the commissioner of education, |
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the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services |
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Commission, and the commissioner of agriculture. |
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(c) The commissioner of education, or the commissioner's |
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designee, shall serve as the presiding officer of the task force. |
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(d) A member of the task force may not receive compensation |
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for serving on the task force. |
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(e) The task force must: |
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(1) identify and study the development of an |
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age-appropriate curriculum for nutrition education in public |
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schools that: |
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(A) increases student knowledge of appropriate |
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nutrition; and |
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(B) provides proven strategies that influence |
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student motivation, including strategies that: |
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(i) teach positive nutrition skills; |
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(ii) encourage healthy eating behaviors; |
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(iii) mitigate unhealthy attitudes; and |
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(iv) provide students the necessary tools |
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to accomplish nutritional goals; |
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(2) assess existing nutrition education curriculum, |
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resources, and initiatives in public schools that address illnesses |
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caused by poor nutrition, including obesity and diabetes; |
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(3) develop recommendations, initiatives, and reforms |
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that can be implemented to improve the success of nutrition |
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education, resources, and materials designed to assist teachers in |
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preparing nutrition education lessons; |
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(4) work with appropriate state and federal officials |
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to develop reforms that: |
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(A) increase the effectiveness of public school |
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meal programs; and |
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(B) encourage an active role in nutrition |
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education, including providing: |
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(i) nutrient information for school meals; |
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(ii) nutrition education in the classroom; |
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and |
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(iii) other educational activities, |
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primarily in kindergarten through fifth grade, to increase |
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awareness of nutrition benefits; |
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(5) develop recommendations relating to increasing |
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the effectiveness of nutrition coordinators, including: |
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(A) reporting information regarding: |
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(i) the number of schools that have a |
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nutrition coordinator; and |
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(ii) the role of the nutrition coordinator |
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in integrating a nutrition curriculum; |
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(B) developing requirements for placing a |
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nutrition coordinator on each public school campus; |
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(C) coordinating a nutrition curriculum that |
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provides a coherent sequence of nutrition lessons for kindergarten |
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through 12th grade; and |
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(D) integrating nutrition lessons: |
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(i) across different subject areas at the |
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same grade level; and |
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(ii) in the classroom with related |
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nonclassroom activities; and |
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(6) in the report required under Subsection (h), make |
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specific recommendations for legislative and other actions, |
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including budget-related recommendations regarding policy |
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initiatives and reforms necessary to implement and increase |
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nutrition education, awareness, and resources in public schools in |
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kindergarten through 12th grade. |
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(f) State agencies shall cooperate with the task force as |
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necessary. |
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(g) The task force shall meet not less than once each month. |
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The task force may meet by telephone conference call, |
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videoconference, or any similar telecommunication method. |
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(h) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the task force shall prepare a report on the task force's |
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recommendations and provide the report in writing or electronically |
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to the governor and members of the legislature. |
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(i) At least every three years, the agency, the Health and |
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Human Services Commission, and the Department of Agriculture shall |
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review and, if necessary, revise any rules, recommendations, and |
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policies implemented based on the recommendations of the task |
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force. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than March 1, 2018, the nutrition |
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education task force established under Section 28.0042, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act, shall develop and submit to the Texas |
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Education Agency, the Health and Human Services Commission, and the |
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Department of Agriculture recommendations for implementation |
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during the 2018-2019 school year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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