Bill Text: MS HB924 | 2011 | Regular Session | Enrolled


Bill Title: Council on Combating Obesity in Mississippi; create.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2011-04-26 - Vetoed [HB924 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2011-HB924-Enrolled.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2011 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Human Services

By: Representative Holland

House Bill 924

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE COUNCIL ON COMBATING OBESITY IN MISSISSIPPI AND PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL; TO DIRECT THE COUNCIL TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE, STRATEGIC PLAN TO COMBAT OBESITY IN MISSISSIPPI, WHICH MUST ADDRESS CERTAIN ISSUES; TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WILL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, AND THE COUNCIL WILL PERFORM ITS DUTIES WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION OR THE USE OF ANY STATE FUNDS; TO REQUIRE THE COUNCIL TO PREPARE AND PRESENT AN ANNUAL REPORT OF ITS WORK TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  (1)  There is created the Council on Combating Obesity in Mississippi, which shall be composed of thirty-four (34) members, as follows:

          (a)  Two (2) members appointed by the Governor;

          (b)  Two (2) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

          (c)  Two (2) members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

          (d)  The Chairman of the House Public Health and Human Services Committee, or his designee;

          (e)  The Chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, or his designee;

          (f)  The Chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committees, or their designees;

          (g)  The Chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, or their designees;

          (h)  The Chairmen of the House and Senate Insurance Committees, or their designees;

          (i)  The Chairman of the House Medicaid Committee, or his designee;

          (j)  The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, or his designee;

          (k)  The Commissioner of Insurance, or his designee;

          (l)  The Executive Director of the Division of Medicaid, or his designee;

          (m)  The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation;

          (n)  The Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs of the University of Mississippi Medical Center;

          (o)  A representative of the State Department of Education, appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education;

          (p)  A representative of the State Department of Health, appointed by the State Health Officer;

          (q)  A representative of the State Department of Mental Health, appointed by the executive director of the department;

          (r)  A representative of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, appointed by the executive director of the department;

          (s)  A representative of the Delta Strategic Compact;

          (t)  A representative of the YMCA;

          (u)  A representative of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Heart Association;

          (v)  A representative of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery;

          (w)  A representative of the Center for Mississippi Health Policy;

          (x)  A representative of the Weight Watchers organization in Mississippi;

          (y)  A representative of the Mississippi Dietetic Association;

          (z)  A physician representative of the Mississippi State Medical Association;

          (aa)  A representative of the Beverage Association of Mississippi; and

          (bb)  A representative of the Mississippi Community Education Center.

     (2)  The council shall develop a comprehensive, strategic plan to combat obesity in Mississippi, which shall address, at a minimum, the following issues:

          (a)  Implementing a statewide policy on physical activity;

          (b)  Increasing compliance with the state's nutrition standards;

          (c)  Reducing the nurse-to-student ratio from 1:1092 to 1:750 and assuring that each school district has at least one (1) nurse;

          (d)  Studying the counseling services in the schools and how they can more effectively address childhood depression and suicide;

          (e)  Providing for nutrition counseling and curriculum and after-school fitness programs in the schools;

          (f)  Collecting and analyzing data regarding the extent to which children and adults in Mississippi suffer from obesity, and the programs and services currently available to meet the needs of overweight children and adults, and the funds dedicated by the state to maintain those programs and services;

          (g)  Collecting and analyzing data to demonstrate the economic impact on the state of treating obesity and the estimated cost savings of implementing a comprehensive statewide obesity prevention and management model;

          (h)  Establishing and maintaining a resources data bank containing information about obesity and related subjects accessible to educational and research institutions, as well as members of the general public;

          (i)  Considering the feasibility of awarding tax incentives for work sites that promote activities to reduce obesity in the workforce;

          (j)  Making recommendations to enhance funding for effective prevention and management programs and services, including Medicaid, private health insurance programs, and other state and federal funds;

          (k)  Making recommendations designed to assure that children of school age who may have early indicators of obesity have access to affordable, effective prevention and management services;

          (l)  Making recommendations for changes to statewide elementary and secondary education curricula to implement comprehensive, coordinated obesity awareness and education programs;

          (m)  Making recommendations to enhance clinical education curricula in medical, nursing and other schools of higher education to implement comprehensive, coordinated obesity awareness and education courses;

          (n)  Making recommendations to increase education and awareness among primary care physicians and other health professionals regarding the recognition, prevention and effective management of obesity;

          (o)  Considering a state prevention campaign to increase public awareness of the need for early prevention and management of obesity, possibly including:

              (i)  A broad-based public education campaign outlining health risks associated with failure to receive treatment for obesity;

              (ii)  A health professional training campaign; and

              (iii)  A targeted public education campaign directed toward high risk populations;

          (p)  Coordinating with the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the United States Department of Education, the United States Centers for Disease Control and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention to share resources and information in order to ensure a comprehensive approach to obesity and obesity-related conditions;

          (q)  Coordinating with the State Departments of Education, Health, Human Services and the Division of Medicaid to share resources and information in order to ensure a comprehensive approach to obesity and obesity-related conditions; and

          (r)  Identifying and making recommendations to reduce cultural, environmental and socioeconomic barriers to prevention and management of obesity in Mississippi.

     (3)  The council shall hold its first meeting not later than June 1, 2011, with the date, time and location of the meeting to be designated jointly by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Lieutenant Governor.  At the first meeting, the council shall elect from among its membership a chairman, vice chairman, and any other officers determined to be necessary, and it shall set the date, time and location of its later meetings.  A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

     (4)  Members of the council shall not be entitled to reimbursement of expenses or to compensation for their service on the council, and the council shall perform its duties without legislative appropriation or the use of any state funds for that purpose.  However, any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state, or of any political subdivision thereof, shall provide, at the request of the chair of the council, such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the council, to carry out its duties.

     (5)  The council shall prepare and present an annual report of its work, including proposed legislation if necessary, to the Legislature, in particular the Chairmen of the House Public Health and Human Services Committee and the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, and to the Governor not later than December 15 of each year.

     (6)  All departments, boards, agencies, officers and institutions of the state and all subdivisions thereof shall cooperate with the council in carrying out its purposes under this section.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

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