SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 2

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE TO ASSESS THE ROLE OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN REDUCING OBESITY IN CHILDREN AND TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR INCREASED WEEKLY INSTRUCTION TO IMPROVE CHILDREN'S FITNESS.

     WHEREAS, obesity rates in the United States have more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past thirty years; and

     WHEREAS, obese adolescents are more likely to suffer from prediabetes and have higher risk factors for cardiovascular disease, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea and social and psychological problems; and

     WHEREAS, research has shown that people with poorer health in childhood are more likely to experience lower academic success in school, worse health and reduced employment and job satisfaction in adulthood; and

     WHEREAS, the centers for disease control and prevention recommends minimum physical education units at specified, regular intervals as a measure to improve children's fitness, decrease obesity and increase attention to improve outcomes in the classroom; and

     WHEREAS, required physical education classes within the school system provide a venue for children to receive regular physical education instruction, to engage in regular physical activity and to learn potentially lifelong healthy habits;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee be requested to establish a task force to evaluate the feasibility of requiring a minimum of one hundred fifty minutes of physical education per school week, per year, for all children in public elementary schools by licensed physical education instructors; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee be requested to include on the task force representatives from elementary schools; the society for health and physical educators, New Mexico; the New Mexico athletic directors association; the New Mexico coalition of school administrators; experts in physical education pedagogy; and health care professionals involved in the care of children with obesity, including the New Mexico pediatric society, physical therapists, occupational therapists and the New Mexico school nurse's association, as well as representatives from the legislative education study committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to review programs established in other states that have mandated weekly multiple hours of physical education in elementary schools; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to develop a plan for the funding and implementation of weekly multi-hour mandatory physical education in elementary schools to begin at the start of the 2017-2018 school year; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force provide a report to the legislative education study committee by October 1, 2016; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chair of the legislative education study committee, the chair of the legislative finance committee and the secretary of public education.

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