SLS 14RS-158 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 96
BY SENATOR HEITMEIER
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. Requests the Department of Education to submit a report
to the Legislature regarding the availability of water for student consumption at elementary
and secondary schools.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to assess water accessibility in2
Louisiana schools and report its findings to the legislature and the State Board of3
Elementary and Secondary Education.4
WHEREAS, water is vital to the physical and cognitive health of children; and5
WHEREAS, dehydration can lead to temporary cognitive impairments such as6
reduced concentration and limited short-term memory; and 7
WHEREAS, choosing sugar-sweetened beverages as alternatives to water may lead8
to weight gain, insulin resistance or type-2 diabetes, some forms of cancer, and tooth decay;9
and10
WHEREAS, almost thirty-one percent of Louisiana youths report drinking at least11
two sodas per day; and12
WHEREAS, the federal Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 requires school13
districts to make free, potable drinking water available to students in food service areas14
during meal times; and15
WHEREAS, while Louisiana's plumbing code requires schools to provide one16
drinking fountain for every three classrooms and at least one drinking fountain per floor,17
school personnel have revealed that water fountains are often out of order and that students18 SCR NO. 96
SLS 14RS-158 ORIGINAL
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do not like the taste of the unfiltered water; and1
WHEREAS, schools may select specific methods for serving water, such as disposal2
cups and reusable water bottles; and3
WHEREAS, since the current state of water access in Louisiana schools, both during4
meal times and throughout the school day, is unknown, further field research is needed to5
determine each school's needs and the best ways to promote water consumption among6
youth.7
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby8
urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to assess water accessibility in9
Louisiana schools.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department shall report its findings to the11
legislature and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education no later than12
February 1, 2015.13
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the14
state Superintendent of Education and the secretary of the Department of Health and15
Hospitals.16
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
Heitmeier SCR No. 96
Requests the Department of Health and Hospitals to assess water accessibility in Louisiana
schools.
Requires DHH to report its findings to the legislature and BESE no later than February 1,
2015.