WHEREAS, The State of California is currently facing a growing obesity crisis in which 58.8 percent of all adults are overweight and fewer than 40 percent of children in grades 5, 7, and 9 passed a physical performance test known as the Fitnessgram; and
WHEREAS, Healthy workplace and school environments can greatly enhance the quality of life for California workers, children and their families, increase morale, prevent illness, and enhance productivity of California businesses and students; and
WHEREAS, Corporate America traditionally overlooks the importance of employee well-being in relation to the work environment; and
WHEREAS, California’s schools often present a model of eating and activity that is incongruent with the healthy habits encouraged in health, nutrition, and physical education; and
WHEREAS, Californians’ obesity and overweight rates are leading to an epidemic of Type II Diabetes (formerly known as Adult Onset Diabetes) among children and adults, with projections that one in three children born in 2006 will contract the disease; and
WHEREAS, The current rates of overweight, inactivity, obesity, and diabetes are costing California over 41 billion dollars each year in health costs and lost productivity; and
WHEREAS, A legislative task force is necessary to provide a framework and support to help California companies enhance employee wellness programs as a long-term health solution; and
WHEREAS, A legislative task force is necessary to provide a framework and support to California’s schools in order to create healthier education environments; and
WHEREAS, The California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness was established in the 2001–02 Regular Session of the Legislature by SCR 40 and SCR 99, and continued in the 2005–06 Regular Session of the Legislature by SCR 73, to promote fitness and health in the Legislature, schools, and workplaces; and
WHEREAS, The California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness has successfully elevated the profile of fitness in the California Legislature, in schools and workplaces statewide, and has developed projects such as the Physical Education Research for Kids project and the California Fit Business Award to continue encouraging healthy eating and activity environments for all Californians; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness is hereby continued to promote fitness and health in the Legislature, schools, and workplaces; and be it further
Resolved, That the task force shall be comprised of Members of the Legislature and experts as follows:
(a) The task force shall have 20 voting members, with additional advisory members and alternates as requested or needed.
(b) The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint two Members from the Assembly, and the Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint two Members from the Senate. Additionally, both the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules shall each appoint alternate members from the Assembly and from the Senate.
(c) Additionally, both the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules
shall each appoint members, from each of the following categories:
(1) Two members from the field of education.
(2) Two members from the field of industry or business.
(3) Two members from the field of health.
(4) One member from the field of fitness.
(d) Two “youth representatives” and two alternates between the ages of 15 and 19 shall be appointed by the foregoing members of the task force and approved by the task force chair, for one-year terms, concurrent with the academic school year; and be it further
Resolved, That the Members of the Legislature who serve on the task force shall serve only to the extent that their service is consistent with their duties as Members of the Legislature; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate Committee on Rules shall name the chair of the task force; and be it further
Resolved, That members of the task force appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing power; and be it further
Resolved, That the members of the task force shall conduct the business of the task force on a volunteer basis and shall not receive a salary for services nor be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as task force members; and be it further
Resolved, That the task force shall have all of the following duties:
(a) To meet twice a year to discuss strategies. The task force shall strive to generate media and public interest in the activities of the task force and its annual meetings in a manner that elevates the importance of healthy and fit schools and workplaces in the minds of all Californians.
(b) To support the existing task force Internet Web site, and to publicize the task force mission statement and inform visitors of resources available to California citizens, schools, and companies. Features shall include a library of wellness tips, educational tools, examples of successful school and corporate wellness programs, including individual
success stories, and biographies of task force members.
(c) To generate media and legislative attention for the task force and increase awareness of wellness issues.
(d) To submit a report on the work of the task force to the Legislature on or before June 30, 2012; and be it further
Resolved, That the task force shall create two subcommittees, one on youth wellness, and another on corporate wellness, to specialize work and expertise. Other subcommittees may be created as the members of the task force deem appropriate. Each subcommittee shall report on its work and findings to the entire task force; and be it further
Resolved, That the task force is authorized to accept private funds and in-kind donations to pay expenses incurred in conducting its business. These expenses include, but are not limited to, staff, administrative, meeting, and publication expenses; and be it further
Resolved, That the task force shall cease to exist on July 1, 2014, unless a later enacted resolution that is enacted before that date deletes or extends that date.