Priorities for 81st Legislative Session

1. Support Implementation of Coordinated School Health

• Support funding of school health specialists through TEA
• Strengthen criteria for SHAC organizational structure to make them more effective (required # of meetings, parent chair or co-chair, report to school board yearly)
• Support funding for schools to implement coordinated school health

2. Improve Nutrition Education and Access to Healthy Foods

• Support existing Texas Public School Nutrition Policy
• Promote nutrition and nutrition education in public schools and early childhood environments
• Support the expansion of farm to school programs to reach more Texas school children
• Study the feasibility of incorporating WIC/Food Stamp programs into farmer’s market locations

3.  Strengthen Physical Education in Schools and Communities to
     Reflect Best Practice

• Establish criteria for new school construction that promotes physical education
• Collect and analyze data on physical education class sizes and physical education teacher certification
• Support daily recess
• Improve physical education in early childhood environments
• Promote built environments that integrate physical activity into daily life

 

4. Promote Worksite Wellness Programs

• Provide incentives for employers to establish worksite wellness programs
• Worksite wellness programs should include nutrition, physical education, and tobacco cessation counseling; and insurance discounts for preventive services
• Support private sector programs as models for the public sector
• Encourage employers to provide opportunities for employees to be active during the day, including open, safe stairwells, and other places to walk. Business and organizations should also focus on providing healthy options in vending machines and in cafeterias

5. Support Comprehensive Evidence-Based Programs at the
    Community Level that will have an Impact on Obesity

6.  Monitor Texas Department of Agriculture Sunset Review Process to
     Strengthen Implementation of Nutrition Policy