Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-123

Date: 02/12/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-123

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment D). The motion Refer Senate Bill 09-123, as amended, to the Commi	Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection PASS

04:23 PM -- Senate Bill 09-123

Senator Williams, sponsor of Senate Bill 09-123, presented the bill. She said the purpose of the bill is to reduce the dropout rate and to encourage students to make healthy choices and stay in school. Senator Williams said Colorado's graduation rate is about 70 percent and talked about the costs to society of high school dropouts. The bill, she said, would identify at-risk schools. She said she would offer an amendment that would take out provisions referring to body mass index (BMI). A second amendment, she said, would take out General Fund funding for the bill.

04:28 PM

Senator Williams said the Junior League of Denver has been studying how obesity has effected students. She said the bill looks at kids at the middle school level, because it is important to intervene at that level. She provided a handout from the Junior League of Denver with research on the issue (Attachment B). She said the bill presents opportunities for nonprofits to come forward and adopt schools.

04:31 PM

Senator Williams responded to committee questions. Senator Spence commented on the bill, saying she did not support it as drafted, but with the amendment that takes out provisions related to BMI, she would support it.

04:33 PM

The following persons testified:

04:33 PM -- Tamara Hoffbuhr, representing the Junior League of Denver, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Hoffbuhr said children today are consuming more calories and exercising less. She said research shows that today's generation of kids will be the first to live a shorter time than their parents. Ms. Hoffbuhr talked about how obesity and lack of exercise effect school success for children. She described a national Junior League program that educates families about healthy eating habits, and she talked about the local Healthy Habits program. She noted that the research may be found at www.healthyschoolscolorado.com. She talked about the different aspects of the proposed program. She said the bill is not a mandate, but is a voluntary pilot program. She said the Junior League is contributing funding to the program.

04:39 PM

Ms. Hoffbuhr responded to committee questions. Senator Spence asked if the Junior League supports the amendment that will remove BMI from the bill. Ms. Hoffbuhr said they would prefer that the BMI provisions remain, but they would support the bill without them. Discussion around this issue between Ms. Hoffbuhr and Senator Spence continued. Senator Williams spoke to the issue as well. Senator Hudak asked if the bill could be coordinated with her parental involvement bill.

04:44 PM -- Dr. Lynn Parry, representing the Colorado Medical Society, testified in support of the bill. She talked about the importance of patients being proactive and taking care of themselves.

04:46 PM -- Karen Connell, representing the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), came to the table to respond to questions. Senator Williams asked her to talk about a federal grant program around health education. Ms. Connell talked about state and federal programs in schools addressing health issues. She said the goal is to have a health team in every school. In response to a committee question, she said the proposed program is an after-school program, and no after-school programs are currently being funded. Senator Williams said the bill is a very good match with existing programs administered by the CDE.

04:50 PM -- Rick Metz, representing the Colorado Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (COAHPERD), testified in support of the bill. He said COAHPERD would provide financial support for the program if the bill is passed.

04:51 PM -- Elizabeth Clark, representing the Colorado Association of School Nurses, testified in support of the bill. She said health and academic achievement go hand in hand. Ms. Clark said structured after-school programs would be a big help for students at her school. She spoke specifically to the issue of mental health, saying there are limited resources within schools to deal with mental health issues.

Ms. Clark responded to committee comments and questions. Senator Scheffel asked if the Association of School Nurses supports the amendment removing the BMI provisions of the bill, and asked who the bill is targeting. Ms. Clark said kids from lower-income households are at greater risk for obesity.

04:57 PM

Senator Williams provided closing comments on the bill, saying it addresses many issues with a four-pronged approach. She talked about opportunities for community partnerships with the bill. Senator Bacon commented that Cooperative Extension does similar programs in many areas of the state. Senator Williams said her hope is that the bill will bring together existing programs.


BILL:	SB09-123
TIME:	05:00:23 PM
MOVED:	Spence
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff
	Heath
	Hudak
	King K.
	Scheffel
	Spence
	Romer
	Bacon

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-123
TIME:	05:00:53 PM
MOVED:	Spence
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff
	Heath
	Hudak
	King K.
	Scheffel
	Spence
	Romer
	Bacon

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-123
TIME:	05:01:19 PM
MOVED:	Spence
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-123, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 6-2 vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Hudak	Yes
	King K.	No
	Scheffel	No
	Spence	Yes
	Romer	Yes
	Bacon	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS