AUSTIN, TX--Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. announced today that the next hearing of the Joint Interim Committee on Nutrition and Health in Public Schools will include invited and public testimony.

Updates by the three agencies involved will be presented by the Texas Departments of Agriculture, Education and Health on the charges made to the committee under Senate Bill 474 from the 78th legislative session, authored by Sen. Lucio and sponsored by Rep. Jaime Capelo.

The charges include:

1. determining the nutritional content and quality of foods and beverages served to public school children, including food service meals, a la carte foods, and competitive foods and food provided in vending machines;
2. evaluating the short-term and long-term financial, psychological, and physiological impact of obesity in public school children;
3. assessing the academic, emotional, and health value of a universal breakfast and lunch program by evaluating school children from school districts that provide each child a free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch;
4. evaluating school contracts relating to competitive food products and vending machines.

I.	CALL TO ORDER

II.	ROLL CALL

III.	COMMITTEE BUSINESS
		A.  OPENING REMARKS BY CHAIR
		B.  OPENING REMARKS BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
		C.  ADOPTION OF MINUTES

IV.	UPDATE ON CHARGES FOR SENATE BILL 474
		Commissioner Susan Combs
		Texas Department of Agriculture
		Commissioner Shirley Neeley
		Texas Department of Education
		Barbara Keir, M.D., R.D., Director
		Bureau of Clinical and Nutrition Services
		Texas Department of Health

V.	INVITED TESTIMONY
		Deanna M. Hoelscher, Ph.D., R.D., L.D., C.N.S.
		Paul Villas, D.Ed., CHES
		Border Health Office -University of Texas Pan-American
		Consuelo "Connie" Herrera Barr, Principal
		Mendez  Middle School, Austin

VI.	PUBLIC TESTIMONY

VII.	OTHER BUSINESS

VIII.	RECESS

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