“Physicians can help by speaking out publicly about the true danger of secondhand smoke.”
In spite of the political highs and lows of the session, Herminia Palacio, MD, Texas Public Health Coalition chair and executive director of the Harris County Health Department, applauds the co- alition’s work and TMA’s expertise and support. She says the coalition was es- sential in communicating consensus on major preventable health issues such as tobacco use, obesity, and immunizations. “By standing together, we make a
and then target those areas for obesity prevention strategies as a public health victory this session. Physicians advocated passage of leg- islation to decrease the burden of vac- cine-preventable disease, bolster cancer prevention and research, protect Texans from cigarette smoke, and curb obesity. The Texas Medical Association and the Texas Public Health Coalition supported bills in this year’s budget-conscious ses- sion that also would reduce health care costs and decrease the toll of disease. On some issues, the legislature took the message to heart and passed legisla- tion that will aid physicians in accom- plishing some public health priorities. Dr. Edwards says Rider 18 in the
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts’ budget is a victory for public health. It allows for appropriation of $2 million for the biennium to identify data that can be used to help influence and control the total economic cost of obesity. The rider authorizes the comptroller
to create a geographic information sys- tem (GIS)-driven obesity data set for the state to map areas where children are at risk for obesity and develop a web portal to report the data and help illustrate the link between obesity and its economic impact. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) may give the comptroller all data necessary to create GIS maps showing FITNESSGRAM results and to identify ar- eas in which children are at risk for obe-
42 TEXAS MEDICINE August 2011
sity. The FITNESSGRAM evaluates child fitness levels based on measures of body composition, aerobic capacity, muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility. Legislators approved some of the obe-
sity prevention and immunization bills the groups endorsed. The legislature also passed bills improving the infrastructure and operations of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), created by the 2007 legislature. And lawmakers approved legislation that appropriates a full $600 million to the institute for the next two years to fund grants for cancer research and preven- tion. (See “CPRIT Receives Full Funding,” opposite page.) Not every bill that TMA and the coali- tion endorsed succeeded.
One initiative TMA supported cost nothing up front and would have im- proved health and long-term savings for the state. TMA again backed House Bill 670 by Rep. Myra Crownover (R-Den- ton) and Senate Bill 355 by Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) to prohibit smoking in public and work places. The smoking ban ended up as an amendment to an- other bill. Opponents blocked the legisla- tion when it reached the Senate, and it failed to pass during the regular session. But the legislation staged a comeback during the special session. The newest incarnations of the smoking ban, Senate Bill 28 and House Bill 46, didn’t survive the special session.
stronger impression to members, and they can have confidence that there is broad support on an issue,” she said. She applauds the coalition’s success- ful efforts to prohibit the state’s tobacco prevention budget from being gutted and to expand the bacterial meningitis vaccine requirements for college stu- dents living off campus. Dr. Palacio adds the coalition will meet for a post-session assessment and determine the next steps and priorities. “We believe the coalition is gaining in familiarity with lawmakers. We hope to add to our membership and support,” she said.
Smoking ban fails Representative Crownover says several factors contributed to the demise of the smoking ban amendment during the regular legislative session. She says the Senate appointees to the conference committee didn’t all strongly support the legislation. Plus, the Senate Parliamen- tarian was concerned the amendment violated the one subject rule in the Texas Constitution. The one subject rule is a principle that a statute should embrace only one topic. “While we were very confident that the amendment was well within the bounds of the bill, in the end, the Sen- ate conferees decided that any risk to the bill was too great,” she said. Representative Crownover says the smoking ban had wide support, includ- ing the Texas Restaurant Association and the Texas Conservative Coalition. Failure to pass the statewide smoke-
free legislation puts the health of Tex- as’ residents at risk, Representative Crownover says.
She anticipates legislation to prohibit smoking in public places will be back in
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