Creates the New York state governor's council on physical fitness, sports and health; establishes a fund for the council

- A section 267 is added to the Public Health Law. This section creates the Council within the Department of Health and gives the Department regulatory control over the Council. Section 267 also provides that staff of the Council shall be employees of the Department of Labor.

- A section 267-a is added to the Public Health Law. This section establishes the powers, functions and duties of the Council including requiring the Council to disseminate information, provide annual recommendations, report to the Governor and Legislature, and administer an annual awards program.

- A section 267-b is added to the Public Health Law. This section governs the Council's membership, establishes meeting requirements and requires the Council to provide an annual report to the Governor and Legislature.

Section Two of the bill amends the State Finance Law by adding a new section 95-h which creates the New York State Governors Council on Physical Fitness, sports and Health Fund. The fund will be used for operating expenses of the Council, community-based programs and an incentive based grant program for employers who promote physical activity and physical fitness.

Section Three establishes the effective date of this act.

Justification

Cornell University experts estimate that obesity costs the United States an estimated $117 billion annually and results in the premature death of about 300,000 people a year. Although tobacco has a higher death toll because lung cancer can kill more quickly than obesity, the long term health problems and costs resulting from obesity are far greater.

According to a recent economic report, obese Americans spend more on health care and medications than smokers. This is in large part because extra weight can result in the same jump in chronic health problems as does twenty years of aging. Obesity is associated with numerous health problems and increases the risk for hypertension, heart disease, cancer, asthma, depression, sleep apnea, Type-2 diabetes, high blood cholesterol, stroke, gallbladder diseases, complications with pregnancy, back pain and spinal cord injuries. In the past 25 years, the prevalence of obesity in children has quadrupled. Today, over 30% of American children (ages 6 to 11) are over weight, and fifteen percent of children in this same age group are obese. Sadly, these numbers get even worse for adolescents.

In an effort to combat this growing problem, this legislation creates the New York State Governor's Council on physical Fitness, sports and Health. The Council's mission is to increase awareness regarding the problems associated with obesity and to promote sports, recreational and physical fitness activities within the State of New York. It will be the duty of this Council to promote healthy lifestyles through increased participation in physical activity, and the Council will be responsible for partnering with schools and other community groups in order to further its goals.

Legislative history

S.6551 of 2002 (Introduced by Senator DeFrancisco) S.7854/A.11160 of 2005-2006 (Introduced by Sen. DeFrancisco and Assemblywoman Galef) S.36-A/A.5708-A (Introduced by Sen. DeFrancisco and Assemblywoman Galef)

Fiscal implications

This bill establishes the New York State Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Sports and Health Fund. This entity will fund the activities of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Sports and Health.

Local fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law, provided however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of the foregoing sections of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.