Resolve, To Establish a Task Force To Study the Causes of and Solutions to the Epidemic of Childhood Obesity in Maine

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the economic cost of obesity in the United States has been calculated to amount to as much as $190,000,000,000 annually; and

Whereas,  the National Institute for Children's Health Quality reports that almost 30% of children in the State are either overweight or obese; and

Whereas,  the Department of Health and Human Services and the task force proposed by this resolve must begin their work as soon as possible in order to recommend legislation to establish and support obesity prevention and treatment programs; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Commissioner of Health and Human Services to convene task force. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall convene a task force to study the epidemic of childhood obesity in Maine. In addition to the commissioner's designees from the Department of Health and Human Services and representatives from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the commissioner shall invite the participation of interested stakeholders to serve as members of the task force, including but not limited to families that have been affected by obesity, representatives of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and representatives of the Maine Academy of Family Physicians; and be it further

Sec. 2. Task force; duties. Resolved: That the task force convened under section 1 shall evaluate the epidemic of childhood obesity in the State. The evaluation conducted by the task force must include, but is not limited to:

1. Delineating the scope of childhood obesity in the State;

2. Identifying groups that may be at particularly high risk for obesity;

3. Assessing the availability of prevention and treatment programs; and

4. A review of strategies proposed or adopted in other states and jurisdictions; and be it further

Sec. 3. Task force; report. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall report the findings and conclusions of the task force, including any proposed legislation to address the task force's recommendations, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services by December 6, 2017. The joint standing committee is authorized to submit a bill related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This resolve directs the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to convene a task force to study the epidemic of childhood obesity in Maine.