Caucus Press Release: House Moves to Fight Childhood Obesity
Apr 13, 2005
Rep. Harrell
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS / PRESS OFFICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLUMBIA -- South Carolina's elementary school children will be more active and have fewer unhealthy food choices under a bill approved 101-0 by the House Wednesday.
The bill creates physical education and nutrition standards for the state's elementary schools. If the bill becomes law, students will be required to be offered physical education for 30 minutes a day and only offer drinks that are 100 percent fruit juice or water.
The bill was sponsored by Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, but received broad bipartisan support, including support from the Department of Education.
"Physical education was once a part of a well-balanced education," Rep. Harrell said. "Over the years, physical activity for our children has been dramatically reduced and all manner of unhealthy foods have been introduced for them to eat and drink.
"Our children need to learn to eat healthy and exercise regularly."
In addition to the increased activity and nutrition requirements, the bill also requires once-a-week nutrition education for children, reduces P.E. teacher-to-student ratios, and provides state funding for school nurses in each school.
The bill will be phased in over a three-year period, beginning this fall. The state will pay for the new teachers required under the bill.
Currently, schools offer as little as 30 minutes a week of physical education and in some, soda and snack machines are available for children. As physical education time has been reduced over the past decade, childhood obesity rates have skyrocketed.
A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate and is currently in that body's Education Committee.
For More Information:
Rep. Bobby Harrell
(803) 734-3144
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Click for a PDF copy of this press release.
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