School Health
School Health sub-topics
- Health and PE High School Graduation Requirements
- Coordinated School Health and Student Fitness Assessment
- Physical Activity in School
- Regulating Foods Sold & Marketed in Public Schools
- Providing Meals to Public School Children
| Health and PE High School Graduation Requirements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill # | Author | Status | Brief Description | Past Bills (2011) |
| SB 134 | Sen. Jane Nelson | FAILED; Referred to Education |
Reinstates ½ credit of Health as a requirement for high school graduation (was eliminated in 2009); returns the Physical Education graduation requirement to 1.5 credits (was reduced to 1 credit in 2009). | SB 186 Failed to pass; left pending in Education Committee. |
| HB 275 | Rep. Carol Alvarado | FAILED; Referred to Public Education |
Returns the Physical Education graduation requirement to 1.5 credits (was reduced to 1 credit in 2009). | HB 281 Failed to pass; left pending in Public Health Committee. |
| HB 276 | Rep. Carol Alvarado | FAILED; Referred to Public Education |
Reinstates ½ credit of Health as a requirement for high school graduation (was eliminated in 2009). | HB 280 Failed to pass; left pending in Public Health Committee. |
| HB 2431 | Rep. Jim Murphy | FAILED; Referred to Public Education |
Removes the need for Texas Education Agency approval of off campus physical education credits. | |
Resources1. Texas Education Agency website: Texas High School Graduation Requirements Keep scrolling. More bills in School Health below… |
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| Coordinated School Health and Student Fitness Assessment | ||||
| Bill # | Author | Status | Brief Description | Past Bills (2011) |
| SB 1 | Sen. Tommy Williams | Passed Senate & House; signed by the Governor | Allocates $5 million to fund the FitnessGram Program for the 2014-2015 biennium; for the purposes of physical fitness assessments and related analysis. | |
| HB 1156 | Rep. Dennis Bonnen | FAILED; Left pending in Public Education |
Eliminates student fitness testing. | |
| SB 684 | Sen. Robert “Bob” Deuell | FAILED; Passed Senate; Referred to Public Education; out of committee |
Bill substitute: fitness testing remains mandatory, but limits the grades in which a student is required to be tested. |
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| HB 2052 | Rep. Larry Phillips | FAILED; Referred to Public Education |
Identical to SB 684 | |
| SB 65 | Sen. Jane Nelson | FAILED; Passed Senate; No action taken in Public Education |
Creates a program that formally recognizes healthy schools for successfully implementing programs that encourage student health and fitness. | SB 224 Failed to pass; passed Senate but died on the House floor. |
| HB 2477 | Rep. Carol Alvarado | FAILED; Referred to Public Education |
Includes mental health concerns as part of the coordinated school health program guidelines. Companion Bill: SB 1352. | |
| SB 1352 | Sen. Judith Zaffirini | FAILED; Passed Senate; Referred to Public Education; out of committee |
Identical to HB 2477. | |
| HB 2483 | Rep. Carol Alvarado | Passed House & Senate; signed by the Governor | Adds oral health education as part of the coordinated school health program guidelines. | |
Resources1. See Resources above. |
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| Physical Activity in School | ||||
| Bill # | Author | Status | Brief Description | Past Bills (2011) |
| HB 277 | Rep. Carol Alvarado | FAILED; Referred to Public Education |
Extends current physical activity requirements in middle school (6th, 7th, and 8th grade) from 4 of 6 semesters to all 6 semesters of middle school. Companion Bill: SB 525 | SB 185 Failed to pass; left pending in Education Committee |
| SB 525 | Sen. José Rodríguez | FAILED; Referred to Education |
Identical to HB 277 | |
| HB 1018 | Rep. Diane Patrick | Passed House & Senate; signed by the Governor | Requires Campus Improvement Plans include goals to increase physical activity and improve fitness among students. | Similar bill SB 225 Failed to pass; left pending in Education Committee |
Resources1. See Resources above. |
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| Regulating Foods Sold & Marketed in Public Schools | ||||
| Bill # | Author | Status | Brief Description | Past Bills (2011) |
| HB 217 | Rep. Carol Alvarado |
Passed House & Senate; VETOED by Governor |
Restricts the types of beverages that can be sold to students (grades K-8) during the school day to water with no added sweeteners, milk with fat content of 1% or less, milk substitutes, 100% fruit / vegetable juices. Electrolyte replacement beverages may be provided at the discretion of a coach to students engaged in certain vigorous activity. Would take effect in 2014-2015 school year. Companion Bill: SB 317 | HB 127 Failed to pass; Passed House but left pending in Senate Education Committee. |
| SB 317 | Sen. Carlos Uresti | FAILED; No action taken in Education |
Identical to HB 217. | |
| SB 1785 | Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. | FAILED; Referred to Education |
Directs the Texas School Health Advisory Committee to conduct a study regarding the use of commercial advertisements on public school property. | |
| SB 1786 | Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. | FAILED; Referred to Education |
Places stricter nutrition guidelines on “competitive foods” sold in schools. | |
Resources1. MSD Center Blog: Fat times at Ridgemont High – Who wants junk food back in schools? |
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| Providing Meals to Public School Children | ||||
| Bill # | Author | Status | Brief Description | Past Bills (2011) |
| HB 296 | Rep. Eddie Rodriguez | FAILED; Referred to Public Education; out of committee |
Schools in which 80 percent or more students qualify for a free or reduced-price breakfast must provide breakfast to each student during school hours. Companion Bill: SB 376 | HB 642 Failed to pass; left pending in Public Education |
| SB 376 | Sen. Eddie Lucio | Passed Senate & House; signed by the Governor | Identical to HB 296. | |
Resources1. Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) website: School breakfast program overview and facts |
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