STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Conaway
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts to provide instruction on awareness of eating disorders as part of Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning certain health instruction in public schools and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, each school district shall incorporate instruction that provides information on eating disorders that is age-appropriate into the health education curriculum for students in grades 6 through 12 as part of the district’s implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
b. The instruction shall:
(1) increase the awareness and understanding of various types of eating disorders including, but not limited to, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other binge-eating disorders;
(2) enable students to recognize the signs and symptoms related to eating disorders, and provide students with information concerning the immediate and long-term harmful effects of eating disorders and on strategies to reduce the risk factors associated with the development of eating disorders; and
(3) promote nutrition and healthy eating, help students monitor their eating habits, provide students with information on developing a healthy body image, and promote self-esteem through factors other than appearance.
c. The Commissioner of Education shall provide school districts with sample learning activities and resources designed to promote the awareness and prevention of eating disorders.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires school districts to incorporate instruction that provides information on eating disorders that is age-appropriate in the health education curriculum for students in grades 6 through 12 as part of the district’s implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The instruction will:
· increase the awareness and understanding of various types of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other binge-eating disorders;
· enable students to recognize the signs and symptoms related to eating disorders, and provide students with information concerning the immediate and long-term harmful effects of eating disorders and on strategies to reduce the risk factors associated with the development of eating disorders; and
· promote nutrition and healthy eating, help students monitor their eating habits, provide students with information on developing a healthy body image, and promote self-esteem through factors other than appearance.