STAND. COM. REP. NO.1298
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: H.C.R. No. 167
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Health and Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 167 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEM OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND TO RECOMMEND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DOE) to examine the problem of childhood obesity and to recommend strategies to address this problem.
Testimonies in support of the intent of this measure was received from DOH and a private citizen. However, DOH felt that it had already identified this problem and is currently working in collaboration with DOE to address the concerns of this measure.
Your Committees understand that childhood obesity is increasing across the country and is one of the major public health issues facing our community. Moreover, childhood obesity is costly, both economically and socially, and can have a lasting impact on the life of a child and on through adulthood.
Furthermore, your Committees recognize that childhood obesity is often due to a sedentary lifestyle and the consumption of fast foods, soda, and candies and that physical education and activity, along with good nutrition education, can combat this problem.
Although your Committees realize that the cost of providing this type of education is significant, the medical, economic, and social costs of continuing on the present course are even greater. Your Committees also realize that low cost physical education alternatives exist and have been utilized in physical education programs in other parts of the country and can be utilized in Hawaii.
Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Adding language emphasizing the importance of physical education and its impact on childhood obesity;
(2) Adding language promoting the utilization of low cost alternative programs already in place throughout the country;
(3) Inserting language acknowledging the collaboration of private sector entities in battling childhood obesity through programs and the promotion of physical education;
(4) Inserting language acknowledging the current collaboration of DOH and DOE on developing a coordinated school health program;
(5) Changing the title to read: "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEM OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND TO RECOMMEND STRATEGIES, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM"; and
(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 167, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 167, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Education,
|
____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair |
____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |