By Mike Shields
KHI News Service
TOPEKA, March 21 A bill creating a task force to come up with a “comprehensive state plan” for combating childhood obesity gained tentative approval in the House on Wednesday.
House Bill 2423
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 also 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,” said Rep. Delia Garcia, D-Wichita, “and in the long run will save us money.”
Obesity is linked to diabetes, hypertension and a variety of other costly maladies.
The bill had bipartisan support.
“This is one of the most exciting initiatives in the Legislature this year,” said Rep. Pat Colloton, R-Leawood.
Other lawmakers praised for pushing the legislation were Reps. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence and Jason Watkins, R-Wichita.
“In this country we seem to have a sick-care, not a health-care system,” Watkins said, urging fellow House members to embrace the bill because it targeted prevention.
He also urged members to disregard a brief opposing the bill from Kansas Legislative Research and Education, Inc. or KLEAR, a group that includes dozens of mostly conservative Kansas legislators among its members. He said KLEAR opposed the bill because of its cost, but noted that KDHE said it could pay the $50,000 to $75,000 tab for implementing it with private donations, sparing the state treasury.
The only negative comment the bill drew was from Rep. Benjamin Hodge, R-Overland Park.
He called it, “another example of where we”re micro-managing our schools.”
-Mike Shields is a staff writer for KHI News Service, which specializes in coverage of health issues facing Kansans. He can be reached at
mshields@khi.org
or at 785-233-5443, ext. 123.