S-1747.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5987

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senators McAuliffe, Kohl and Jacobsen

Read first time 02/25/97.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Requiring a conference on the impact of athletics on the health and well-being of girls.

    AN ACT Relating to the benefits of sports and athletics to the health and well-being of young girls; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall sponsor a conference for health professionals, teachers, parents, administrators, persons involved in community sports programs, and other interested parties on the impact of sports and athletics on the health and well-being of girls.  The conference shall be held during the 1998 calendar year.  The purposes of the conference include, but are not limited to:

    (1) A better understanding of the health and well-being benefits of sports and athletics to girls of elementary school age;

    (2) Identifying barriers to participation by elementary school-age girls in organized athletic programs;

    (3) Identifying measures to increase participation by elementary school-age girls in organized athletic programs; and

    (4) Improving communication and cooperation among interested members of the education community and the public on issues relating to the health and well-being benefits of sports and athletics to girls of elementary school age.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The sum of twenty-four thousand nine hundred dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, from the general fund to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.

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