HBA-CCH C.S.H.C.R. 223 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.C.R. 223
By: Coleman
Public Health
4/23/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Diets deficient in calcium are associated with many health disorders such
as osteoporosis, hypertension, preeclampsia, and colon cancer.  The
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development concludes that
inadequate calcium consumption among children and adolescents is a growing
problem and a serious threat to their later health, growth, and
development.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
the diets of more than 50 percent of children are calcium deficient, and
only 13 percent of teenage girls consume enough calcium to develop strong
bones that support full growth.  Many children and adolescents have calcium
deficient diets as a result of consuming foods and beverages that are low
in calcium and drinking soft drinks that rob the body of calcium or
increase the need for calcium. C.S.H.C.R. 223 directs the Texas Department
of Health to prepare a list of available foods and beverages fortified with
calcium and vitamin D and to forward the list and this resolution to the
Texas Education Agency, each school superintendent, school board,
Parent-Teacher Association, and each primary and secondary school. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this resolution
does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.C.R. 223 directs the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to prepare a
list of available foods and beverages that are naturally fortified with
calcium and vitamin D and to forward the list to every primary and
secondary school, the Texas Education Agency, and every school
superintendent, school board, and Parent-Teacher Association. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.C.R. 223 differs from the original resolution by referring to the
prevalence of vitamin D deficiencies among Texas children and requiring the
Texas Department of Health (TDH) to prepare a list of foods and beverages
that are naturally fortified with vitamin D as well as calcium.  The
substitute requires TDH to forward a copy of the list and resolution to
every school superintendent, school board, and Parent-Teacher Association.