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.