NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9403
SPONSOR: Cusick TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, in relation to
a physical fitness and activity education campaign
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill would establish a New York
State Physical Fitness and Activity Education Campaign.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1- Legislative intent - this campaign would encourage physical
activity which will improve the fitness of the people of NYS and will
complement existing programs administered by the department of health
that develop and promote nutrition and wellness activities.
Section 2 - Amends the public health law by adding a new section 264.
Section 3 - Effective date
JUSTIFICATION: Cornell University experts estimate that obesity costs
the United States an estimated $117 billion annually and results in the
premature death of approximately 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 cholester-
ol, stroke, gallbladder diseases, complications with pregnancy, back
pain and spinal cord injuries.
In the past 25 years, the prevalence of obesity has dramatically
increased. In an effort to combat this growing problem, this legislation
creates the New York Physical Fitness and Activity Education Campaign.
The Campaign'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.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Minimal.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9403
IN ASSEMBLY
April 25, 2014
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to a physical fitness
and activity education campaign
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby determines that
2 a public awareness and educational campaign to encourage physical activ-
3 ity will improve the fitness of the people of the state of New York and
4 lead to a lifetime of good health. This campaign will complement exist-
5 ing programs administered by the department of health that develop and
6 promote nutrition and wellness activities that enhance the quality-of-
7 life for children and adults.
8 § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 264 to
9 read as follows:
10 § 264. New York state physical fitness and activity education
11 campaign. 1. A New York state physical fitness and activity education
12 campaign is hereby established under the administration of the commis-
13 sioner for the purpose of promoting physical fitness and activity
14 through the development and implementation of a public education and
15 outreach campaign.
16 2. The campaign will focus on increasing public awareness of the
17 importance of physical fitness and activity and its corresponding health
18 benefits. The campaign will increase public awareness through the use of
19 social and mass media, including internet, television, radio, and print
20 advertising to promote this message. The campaign will also identify and
21 recruit individuals to serve as visible, public ambassadors to promote
22 this message. Such ambassadors may include professional and amateur
23 athletes, fitness experts, and celebrity advocates from media, music and
24 other entertainment mediums.
25 3. The campaign will be state-wide, and focus on promoting physical
26 fitness and activity for the following populations: seniors; youth; and
27 other high-risk populations.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14558-01-4
A. 9403 2
1 4. Funds made available for expenditure pursuant to this section may
2 be distributed by the commissioner, without a competitive bid or request
3 for proposal process for the purposes set forth in this section, includ-
4 ing but not limited to a media campaign that promotes physical fitness
5 and activity through public education and outreach.
6 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
