86R14760 MEW-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 2214
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 schools
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 28.0046 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0046. NUTRITION EDUCATION TASK FORCE. (a) The
nutrition education task force is established to develop policy
recommendations regarding nutrition education in public schools,
including measures for:
(1) increasing awareness of students in kindergarten
through 12th grade regarding good nutrition;
(2) assisting students in developing healthy eating
habits; and
(3) addressing illnesses developed from poor
nutrition, including obesity and diabetes.
(b) The task force is composed of:
(1) the commissioner of education or the
commissioner's designee;
(2) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission or the executive commissioner's designee;
(3) the commissioner of agriculture or the
commissioner's designee;
(4) experts in nutrition appointed jointly by the
commissioner of education, the executive commissioner of the Health
and Human Services Commission, and the commissioner of agriculture;
and
(5) any other health or education experts appointed
jointly as determined appropriate by the commissioner of education,
the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services
Commission, and the commissioner of agriculture.
(c) The commissioner of education, or the commissioner's
designee, 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 Health and
Human Services Commission, 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, 2020, the Nutrition
Education Task Force established under Section 28.0046, Education
Code, as added by this Act, shall develop and submit to the Texas
Education Agency, the Health and Human Services Commission, and the
Department of Agriculture recommendations for implementation
during the 2020-2021 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, 2019.