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House File 236 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to a vitamin and mineral sufficiency public
2awareness program.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 135.39F Vitamin and mineral
2sufficiency public awareness program — vitamin “D”
3supplementation.
41. The department shall develop and implement an
5evidence-based vitamin and mineral sufficiency public awareness
6program to provide an integrated approach to vitamin and
7mineral sufficiency in the population. The program shall do
8all of the following:
9a. Educate the general public about the science and benefits
10of adequate levels of vitamins and minerals. The department
11shall publish guidelines that specify the risk factors
12associated with specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies,
13how specific deficiencies manifest in various populations,
14the symptoms and health risks associated with specific
15deficiencies, the recommended dietary allowance for each
16vitamin and mineral, and food and other sources of the specific
17vitamin or mineral.
18b. Provide for the evaluation of members of the public for
19vitamin and mineral deficiencies at no cost to the public.
20c. Provide access to members of the public to vitamin “D”
21supplementation from September 21 through March 21, annually,
22at no cost to the public. The department shall provide
23information to the public regarding the importance of vitamin
24“D” sufficiency to immune health and the role of vitamin “D”
25sufficiency in reducing mortality and hospitalization resulting
26from COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses.
272. The department shall establish outcome measures to
28determine if the program results in a decreased prevalence
29of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the population and if
30adjustments should be made to the program. The department
31shall submit a report regarding the outcomes and any
32recommendations for program adjustments to the governor and the
33general assembly, annually, by January 15.
34EXPLANATION
35The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
-1-1the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
2This bill directs the department of health and human
3services (HHS or the department) to develop and implement an
4evidence-based vitamin and mineral sufficiency public awareness
5program to provide an integrated approach to vitamin and
6mineral sufficiency in Iowa. The elements of the program
7include: educating the general public about the science and
8benefits of adequate levels of vitamins and minerals; providing
9for the evaluation of members of the public for vitamin and
10mineral deficiencies at no cost to the public; and providing
11vitamin D supplementation from September 21 through March 21,
12annually, to the public at no cost, as well as information
13regarding the importance of vitamin D sufficiency to immune
14health and its role in reducing mortality and hospitalization
15resulting from COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses.
16The department shall establish outcome measures to determine
17if the program results in a decreased prevalence of vitamin
18and mineral deficiencies in the population and if adjustments
19should be made to the program, and shall submit an annual
20report regarding the outcomes and any recommendations for
21program adjustments to the governor and the general assembly.
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2awareness program.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 135.39F Vitamin and mineral
2sufficiency public awareness program — vitamin “D”
3supplementation.
41. The department shall develop and implement an
5evidence-based vitamin and mineral sufficiency public awareness
6program to provide an integrated approach to vitamin and
7mineral sufficiency in the population. The program shall do
8all of the following:
9a. Educate the general public about the science and benefits
10of adequate levels of vitamins and minerals. The department
11shall publish guidelines that specify the risk factors
12associated with specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies,
13how specific deficiencies manifest in various populations,
14the symptoms and health risks associated with specific
15deficiencies, the recommended dietary allowance for each
16vitamin and mineral, and food and other sources of the specific
17vitamin or mineral.
18b. Provide for the evaluation of members of the public for
19vitamin and mineral deficiencies at no cost to the public.
20c. Provide access to members of the public to vitamin “D”
21supplementation from September 21 through March 21, annually,
22at no cost to the public. The department shall provide
23information to the public regarding the importance of vitamin
24“D” sufficiency to immune health and the role of vitamin “D”
25sufficiency in reducing mortality and hospitalization resulting
26from COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses.
272. The department shall establish outcome measures to
28determine if the program results in a decreased prevalence
29of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the population and if
30adjustments should be made to the program. The department
31shall submit a report regarding the outcomes and any
32recommendations for program adjustments to the governor and the
33general assembly, annually, by January 15.
34EXPLANATION
35The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
-1-1the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
2This bill directs the department of health and human
3services (HHS or the department) to develop and implement an
4evidence-based vitamin and mineral sufficiency public awareness
5program to provide an integrated approach to vitamin and
6mineral sufficiency in Iowa. The elements of the program
7include: educating the general public about the science and
8benefits of adequate levels of vitamins and minerals; providing
9for the evaluation of members of the public for vitamin and
10mineral deficiencies at no cost to the public; and providing
11vitamin D supplementation from September 21 through March 21,
12annually, to the public at no cost, as well as information
13regarding the importance of vitamin D sufficiency to immune
14health and its role in reducing mortality and hospitalization
15resulting from COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses.
16The department shall establish outcome measures to determine
17if the program results in a decreased prevalence of vitamin
18and mineral deficiencies in the population and if adjustments
19should be made to the program, and shall submit an annual
20report regarding the outcomes and any recommendations for
21program adjustments to the governor and the general assembly.
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