House File 418 HOUSE FILE BY FOEGE (COMPANION TO SF 175 BY BOLKCOM) Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the collection and maintenance of obesity= 2 related data by the Iowa department of public health and 3 participating elementary and secondary schools. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 2578HH 80 6 kh/sh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 135.11, Code 2003, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 30. Establish a program to collect and 1 4 maintain data on the height, weight, and body mass index of 1 5 students attending participating elementary and secondary 1 6 schools in the state. The department, in consultation with 1 7 the department of education, shall do all of the following: 1 8 a. Recruit schools that are interested in determining and 1 9 tracking the prevalence of overweight students in the schools' 1 10 student population. Except as otherwise provided in this 1 11 paragraph, a participating school must agree to weigh and 1 12 measure all students enrolled in the school to ensure the 1 13 accuracy and validity of the data collected and reported. A 1 14 student shall not be weighed and measured if the student's 1 15 parent or guardian files with the appropriate principal a 1 16 written request that the student be excused from participating 1 17 in the program. 1 18 b. Provide technical assistance to schools to implement 1 19 the program. Technical assistance shall include identifying 1 20 appropriate equipment and techniques to use when weighing and 1 21 measuring students. The weighing and measuring of students 1 22 shall be done under sanitary conditions and with regard for 1 23 the privacy of the student in a location at the school in 1 24 which other persons are not present. 1 25 c. Develop a system of numerical and alpha identifiers to 1 26 allow for reporting data by school, school district, and 1 27 county. The data shall be maintained by the school, school 1 28 district, and the department in a manner that prevents the 1 29 individual identification of any students. 1 30 d. Enter data electronically into the federal centers for 1 31 disease control and prevention's pediatric nutrition 1 32 surveillance system. 1 33 EXPLANATION 1 34 This bill directs the Iowa department of public health to 1 35 establish a program to collect and maintain data on the 2 1 height, weight, and body mass index of students attending 2 2 elementary and secondary schools that voluntarily participate 2 3 in the program. 2 4 The department must recruit the schools in consultation 2 5 with the department of education; provide technical assistance 2 6 to participating schools; develop numerical and alpha 2 7 identifiers, yet protect the individual identity of students; 2 8 and enter data electronically into the federal centers for 2 9 disease control and prevention's pediatric nutrition 2 10 surveillance system. 2 11 A participating school must agree to weigh and measure all 2 12 students enrolled in the school under sanitary conditions and 2 13 with regard for the privacy of each student. However, a 2 14 student is excused from participation in the program if the 2 15 student's parent files with the principal a written request to 2 16 excuse the student. 2 17 LSB 2578HH 80 2 18 kh/sh/8