KHI NEWS SERVICE
TOPEKA, April 25
The Senate Ways and Means Committee met at the rail on the third floor of the rotunda Wednesday to quickly approve three House bills, including one which would create a task force to build a “comprehensive state plan” for preventing childhood obesity.
House Bill 2423
was approved last month by the House but had not had a hearing in the Senate and risked being lost without the quick action Wednesday. It now can be considered by the full Senate.
The bill would create the task force at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and require that the group hold its first meeting no later than Aug. 1.
The task force would then hold a series of meetings statewide beginning with students in grades 4 through 12 to discuss obesity. Those would be followed by meetings with school officials, including administrators, nurses and food service workers. There also would be meetings with parents and civic leaders to develop plans for community projects dealing with obesity. Another result of the meetings would be recommendations for changes to elementary and secondary school curricula to increase obesity awareness and education.
The task force would be expected to present the governor and legislative leaders with a statewide plan no later than Nov. 1 for programs and services to prevent and manage obesity in youngsters.
“I think this bill is smart on health in terms of prevention and in the long run will save us money,” said Rep. Delia Garcia, D-Wichita, when the bill was approved by the House.
Obesity is linked to diabetes, hypertension and a variety of other costly maladies.
KDHE said it could cover the $50,000 to $75,000 cost of the task force with private donations.
Also approved at the rail meeting were House bills 2421, providing a $250,000 “death benefit” for survivors of Kansas military killed in Iraq, and 2144, which changes the way nursing home reimbursement rates are calculated.