STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1027

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.R. No. 24

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.R. No. 24 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO COORDINATE EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FOR TRACKING CHILDHOOD OBESITY DATA AND IMPLEMENT "BEST PRACTICES" PREVENTION AND TREATMENT INTERVENTION PROGRAMS TO REDUCE CHILDHOOD OBESITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to request the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Health (DOH) to:

(1) Coordinate their efforts to establish a surveillance

system for tracking childhood obesity data; and

(2) Implement best practices programs for prevention and

treatment interventions that reduce childhood obesity.

The Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children and the Hawaii Medical Service Association supported this resolution. DOH opposed this resolution.

Your Committee finds that data on childhood obesity would provide objective information for decision makers and help educators to better understand how to prevent and treat obesity in children and youth.

Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, is an initiating force behind this resolution, as the combined effect of Act 51 and the "No Child Left Behind" Act appear to have reduced the amount of school time now allocated to physical education.

In order to be effective, the planning and development of the surveillance system will require the coordinated efforts of both DOH and DOE.

Your Committee has amended this resolution by:

(1) Changing the emphasis of the resolution to request that the surveillance system be "planned and developed," rather than "established";

(2) Changing its title to read:

"REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO COORDINATE EFFORTS TO PLAN AND DEVELOP A SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FOR TRACKING CHILDHOOD OBESITY DATA AND IMPLEMENTING "BEST PRACTICES" PREVENTION AND TREATMENT INTERVENTION PROGRAMS TO REDUCE CHILDHOOD OBESITY"; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 24, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 24, H.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair