tion. Senate Bill 134 by Senator Nelson would have increased PE and health education requirements for students. Senate Bill 65, also by Senator Nelson, would have recognized public schools with successful health and fitness pro- grams. The bills never made it out of committee. Failure to pass SB 134 will have a detrimental long-term impact on ado- lescents’ health, according to Dr. Avila Edwards.
“Our schools play a critical role in ed- ucating adolescents about health, high- risk behaviors, and the long-term impact of poor health choices. It is a disservice for our children to go through their high school education without health and physical education,” Dr. Avila Edwards said. “Reinvesting in their health and physical education is an investment in their future.”
CPRIT survives session Reforming business operations at the embattled Cancer Prevention and Re- search Institute of Texas (CPRIT) re- ceived a great deal of attention from lawmakers this session. TPHC supported the institute’s funding request for cancer prevention and research while ensuring a transparent funding process that in- cludes an independent, robust scientific review on the merit of all projects. The institute is mired in controversy over allegations it mishandled three large grants totaling $56 million. The legislature approved $600 mil- lion in bond proceeds for 2014–15 and required a transfer of $6 million in bond proceeds to DSHS to support the Texas Cancer Registry. This amount does not differ from funding appropriated in 2012–13. By law, CPRIT can allocate a maximum of 10 percent of total annual grant awards to prevention. That means up to $30 million per year for 2014 and 2015 will be available to fund preven- tion initiatives. Wayne Roberts, CPRIT interim execu-
tive director, says prevention funds will cover evidenced-based clinical services; education projects; primary prevention interventions such as tobacco control; early detection, screening, and diagnos- tic services; and survivorship programs
that provide services like physical reha- bilitation and therapy. TMA and TPHC supported Senate Bill 149 by Senator Nelson to help en- sure a transparent funding process with- in CPRIT. TMA told the Senate Health and Human Services Committee the bill takes important steps to address concern over how CPRIT conducts business. The bill modifies CPRIT’s structure, establish- es salary restrictions, and changes the composition of the oversight commit- tee. SB 149 also establishes conflict-of- interest rules that govern institute com- mittees and employees. The bill requires the oversight committee to adopt a code of conduct applicable to the members of the oversight and program integration committees and CPRIT employees. Senator Nelson considers the delib- eration over CPRIT funding to be one of the biggest challenges public health faced in the legislature.
“The lapses in oversight at CPRIT seri-
ously damaged the public’s trust in what should be one of our proudest endeavors. The funding for this institute and its im- portant research and prevention efforts were very much in jeopardy when the session began,” she said. “SB 149 sets up an iron-clad system of checks and balances at CPRIT and en- sures oversight, both within the institute and outside it,” Senator Nelson said. Mr. Roberts says CPRIT has taken ad- ditional steps to lend transparency to its processes. “CPRIT is already implementing ef- forts to increase transparency for its en-
tire grant program, from the application review and award process to its post- award monitoring activities. CPRIT will publish information about all reported conflicts of interest requiring recusal during the review process, any investiga- tions into unreported conflicts of interest, and any waivers granted for the conflict of interest rules,” he said. Mr. Roberts adds that CPRIT’s chief
executive officer will submit a written affidavit for each grant application rec- ommended for an award that certifies the information related to the peer re- view process. In addition, every grant award contract made by CPRIT is a pub- lic document, and grant monitoring and compliance activities will be publicly reported to the oversight committee at public meetings. Dr. Sanchez says he hopes the provi- sions in SB 149 lead to better steward- ship of CPRIT funds and more transpar- ency regarding fund allocation. He says all Texans benefit from CPRIT’s work in preventing and treating cancer.
TMA helps make cheerleading safer
The Texas Medical Association’s advo- cacy to improve safety in interscholastic athletics has helped convince state offi- cials to adopt rules to reduce cheerlead- ers’ risk of concussions.
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