A1419A-2011 Actions

• Jan 26, 2012: print number 1419a
• Jan 26, 2012: amend and recommit to education
• Jan 4, 2012: referred to education
• Jan 7, 2011: referred to education

A1419A-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 1419--A
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  ASSEMBLY
 January 7, 2011
 
 Introduced by M. of A. ROBINSON -- read once and referred to the Commit
 tee  on  Education  --  recommitted  to  the Committee on Education in
 accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged,  bill
 amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit
 tee
 

AN ACT directing the commissioner of education to create a pilot program
 to improve physical education/physical activity  programs  in  certain
 schools;  and  providing for the repeal of such provision upon expira
 tion thereof
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section  1.  Legislative  findings  and  intent.  The United States is
 confronting a devastating obesity epidemic. The primary causes of child
 hood obesity - lack of physical activity and poor  diet  -  continue  to
 permeate  youth  culture  and  will  diminish hundreds of thousands more
 lives and cost billions more  dollars  if  left  un-reversed.  26.5%  of
 adults in New York report that they do not engage in any physical activ
 ity  compared to the national average of 22%. More than 700,000 New York
 City residents have diabetes, most of those suffer from type 2 diabetes,
 a devastating disease primarily caused by lack of physical activity  and
 poor  diet. Type 2 diabetes is expected to afflict one in three American
 children born in and after 2000. The medical cost of treating  diabetics
 in New York City is almost half a billion dollars a year; the human toll
 and  loss  of  workplace productivity is incalculable.  Overweight youth
 10-15 years old have an 80% chance of becoming an obese adult by age 25.
 43% of all NYC elementary  school  students  are  overweight  or  obese.
 Student-teacher  ratios  for  physical education in New York City are an
 estimated 730 to 1. While  New  York  state  requires  physical  fitness
 education  in  schools,  many schools have difficulties implementing the
 requirements due to limited resources in funding and/or space.
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD00259-03-2
 
       A. 1419--A                          2
 

S 2. (a) The commissioner of education is hereby directed to establish
 a physical education/physical activity pilot program. The department  of
 education  shall  select  at least ten public elementary, middle or high
 schools in the state to participate in a two year pilot program aimed at
 improving  physical  education  and  physical  activity programs in such
 schools. The department may expand such  program  to  additional  public
 schools  upon request and available funding. Seventy-five percent of the
 schools selected shall be located in  the  city  of  New  York  and  the
 remaining  shall  be  selected based upon the criteria set forth in this
 act. Each participating school shall be required to provide at least  45
 minutes  per  week  of  a combination of physical education and physical
 activity for each student. A pilot school shall not be penalized in  any
 manner  if  a reasonable attempt has been made to provide the program to
 each student.
 (b) The program shall be  administered  through  a  contract  with  an
 outside entity that is able to provide:

 (1) a minimum of 45 minutes of activity per week for each student;
 (2) a proven track record of effectiveness;
 (3)  flexibility in providing services, either before, during or after
 school hours;
 (4) physical education, in addition to nutrition and health education;
 (5) a system of accountability and transparency;
 (6) on-going support and training services; and
 (7) incentives and awards for good performance for individuals, class
 es and schools.
 (c) The pilot program established by this act may be  run  in  coordi
 nation  with  the  Road  Runner  Mighty  Milers  program, a school-based
 program combining daily aerobic activities with  personalized  goal-set
 ting,  nutrition,  academic,  and  health education components available
 at-site and on-line, established by the New York  Road  Runners  Founda
 tion.
 (d) The education department may accept applications for participation
 in the pilot program from schools meeting the following criteria:

 (1)  at least 50% of the students qualify for federal free and reduced
 lunches;
 (2) the school has demonstrated limited facilities and/or resources to
 implement a physical education program; and
 (3) the school will be able to provide a "site coordinator"  including
 but   not   limited  to  a  member  of  the  facility  or  member  of  a
 parent/teacher organization.
 (e) The department of education shall conduct  an  evaluation  of  the
 pilot  program which may be done in collaboration with an outside entity
 and shall report preliminary findings by May 15, 2013 and a final report
 by July 15, 2013 to the governor and the legislature.
 

S 3.  Funding  for  the  physical  education/physical  activity  pilot
 program  shall  be  provided through appropriations to the department of
 education.
 

S 4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that  the  pilot
 program  established by section two of this act shall be administered in
 the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school years; and provided further that  the
 provisions  of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed on and after
 June 30, 2014.

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