Health Education Advocacy

Health Education Advocacy

Update on Bills in Texas Legislature
Update on National Bills
The Health Education Advocate

Update on Bills in Texas Legislature

1. HB 703
Author: Rose
Caption: Relating to fall prevention awareness.
Last Action: 5-23-09 – E – effective immediately

2. HB 684
Author: Farrar
Caption: Relating to an abortion when a fetal abnormality is detected.
Last Action: 2-18-09 House – referred to State Affairs

3. HB 680
Author: Farrar
Caption: Relating to an abortion for a victim of incest or sexual assault.
Last action: 2/18/09 House – Referred to State Affairs

4. HB 679
Author: Farrar
Caption: Relating to testing and warnings related to mercury levels in certain fish.
Last Action: 3-10-09 – House – left pending in committee

5. HB 634
Author: Hernandez
Caption: Relating to establishing a carbon dioxide "cap and trade" program to enable participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Last Action: 2-18-09 House – referred to Environmental Regulation

6. SB 457
Author: Gallegos
Caption: Relating to penalty assessment for violations of the Texas Clean Air Act committed by major sources.
Last Action: 5-12-09 – Senate – left pending in committee

7. HB 5
Author: Crownover
Caption: Relating to the elimination of smoking in all workplaces and public places; providing penalties.
Last Action: 5-8-09 House – reported favorably as substituted

8. SB 352
Author: Shapleigh
Caption: Relating to a prohibition of trans fatty acids in meals provided to students by school districts.
Last Action: 2-17-09 Senate – referred to Education

9. SB 338
Author: Van de Putte
Caption: Relating to requirements for businesses that offer plastic checkout bags to customers; providing civil and administrative penalties.
Last Action: 5-19-09 House – left pending in committee

10. HB 220
Author: Menendez
Caption: Relating to prohibitions on the use of a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle.
Last Action: 3-10-09 House – left pending in committee

11. HB 703
Author: Rose
Caption: Relating to fall prevention awareness
Last Action: 5-23-09 – Effective immediately

12. SB 84
Author: Nelson
Caption: Relating to establishment of a suicide prevention program for public high schools
Last Action: 2-10-09 – Senate – referred to Education

13. SB 278
Author: Nelson
Caption: Relating to appropriations to the Department of State Health Services for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
Last Action: 2-11-09 – Senate – referred to Finance

14. HB 3327
Author: Castro
Caption: Relating to the duties of the interagency obesity council and the Department of Agriculture relating to health, wellness, and prevention of obesity.
Last Action : 3-18-09 – House – referred to Public Health

15. HB 3326
Author: Castro
Caption: Relating to health risk assessments of state employees
Last Action: 3-18-09 House – referred to Public Health

16. HB 741
Author: Castro
Caption: Relating to health education curriculum and instruction in public schools
Last Action: 3-31-09 House – left pending in committee

17. HB 142
Author: McClendon
Caption: Relating to disease control programs to reduce the risk of certain communicable diseases
Last Action: 4-16-09 – House – Considered by s/c in work session

18. SB 544
Author: Ellis
Caption: Relating to the elimination of smoking I certain workplaces and public places; providing penalties
Last Action: 5-21-09 – Senate – not again placed on intent calendar

Update on National Bills:

Check out: www.congress.org/. Click on Issues and Actions (top panel). You will see a menu called Select an issue area: Scroll down and click on health. There are 396 bills related to health.

Additional information about some of the major health related bills on another website:

1. HR 2749 – the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 – passed House on July 30, 2009
The bill requires the FDA to increase frequency of food inspections and to track food throughout the food chain to expedite recalls. It strengthens FDA’s authority to impose penalties and implement mandatory food quarantines. Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for consideration.

2. HR 1256 – the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act – passed Congress on June 12, 2009
The bill directs the FDA to regulate tobacco marketing and advertising and requires larger warnings on cigarette packages.

3. Health Reform
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed the Affordable Health Choices Act on July 15, 2009.
House Ways and Means Committee passed its version of America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, HR 3200 on July 16, 2009.

The Health Education Advocate - Advocating for Public Health Education Legislation and Health Promotion Funding

www.healtheducationadvocate.org

The Health Education Advocate mission is to provide a central, timely source of advocacy information related to the field of health education and health promotion.

The website allows health educators access to resources such as tips and primers, articles, websites and PowerPoint presentations on advocacy methods currently being used in the field. The website also provides access to tools designed to take action immediately, like fact sheets, press releases, testimonials and sample letters which can be used to send to local media or political outlets. Many more resources are available to help advocate more effectively for health education at the local community, state, or national level.

The Health Education Advocate site is supported through the collaborative efforts of the Coalition of National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO) (http://www.hsc.usf.edu/CFH/cnheo) and related partners. Founded in 1972, the CNHEO is a non-profit federation of organizations dedicated to advancing the profession of health education.