HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 137

(By Delegates Young, M. Poling, Perry, Moye, Pasdon, Pethtel, Barill, Walker, Fragale, Cooper, Tomblin, Ambler, Lawrence, Rowan, Butler, D. Evans, Williams, Sumner, Campbell, Hamrick and Espinosa)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study methods for improving overall student health in West Virginia.

    Whereas, Students learn best when they are in good physical health; and

    Whereas, Physically active children are more likely to thrive academically and socially; and

    Whereas, Schools have a duty to teach students about proper nutrition and the value of physical activity to providing a high quality of life; and

    Whereas, Lessons on proper nutrition necessarily must include an understanding of moderation when selecting low-nutrition or non-nutritious foods; and

    Whereas, Periodic opportunities for students to enjoy non-instructional or recreational activities are valuable means for increasing their interest and engagement in school, as well as increasing their desire to succeed in school; and

    Whereas, Providing a time of relief from school-work when students can relax or exert physical energy serves to reinvigorate students’ minds for continued focus on academics; and

    Whereas, Students spend a significant period of time daily in the school environment, and most students consume at least one meal per day while at school; and

    Whereas, Individuals who eat balanced, nutritious meals, and integrate physical fitness into their lifestyle routine are more likely to enjoy significantly better overall health and improved quality of life; and

    Whereas, There are many ways individuals can incorporate physical activities into otherwise sedentary activities; and

    Whereas, The Legislature desires to study the feasibility of incorporating physical movement and activities into the delivery of curriculum and instruction; and

    Whereas, West Virginia Board of Education policies have established nutrition standards for meals served in public schools; and

    Whereas, The Legislature desires to evaluate the results of those policies and their impact on obesity rates and overall student health; and

    Whereas, According to studies reported in Pediatric Exercise Science and the West Virginia Medical Journal, students in the elementary grades through high school receive less than required levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity in physical education courses, and children in the state generally are not receiving the necessary intensity of activity; and

    Whereas, Schools face challenges in providing needed physical education and physical activity to students, including lack of staff and equipment, increased pressure to raise test scores, and greater demands to meet content standards and objectives; and

    Whereas, Schools must provide physical education and physical activity regardless of the challenges in order to assure student health and well-being and halt the childhood obesity epidemic; and

    Whereas, The Legislature desires to evaluate the impact of the 2005 Healthy Lifestyles Act on improving student health; and

    Whereas, The Legislature desires to evaluate the findings and recommendations regarding the impact of physical activity on student health as reported in the 2013 report by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; and therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study methods for improving overall student health in West Virginia; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2015, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.