81R8934 CAS-D
By: Alvarado H.B. No. 1877
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to physical activity requirements for students enrolled in
public school prekindergarten programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.002(l), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(l) A school district shall require a student enrolled in
full-day prekindergarten, in kindergarten, or in a grade level
below grade six to participate in moderate or vigorous daily
physical activity for at least 30 minutes throughout the school
year as part of the district's physical education curriculum or
through structured activity during a school campus's daily recess.
To the extent practicable, a school district shall require a
student enrolled in prekindergarten on less than a full-day basis
to participate in the same type and amount of physical activity as a
student enrolled in full-day prekindergarten. A school district
shall require students enrolled in grade levels six, seven, and
eight to participate in moderate or vigorous daily physical
activity for at least 30 minutes for at least four semesters during
those grade levels as part of the district's physical education
curriculum. If a school district determines, for any particular
grade level below grade six, that requiring moderate or vigorous
daily physical activity is impractical due to scheduling concerns
or other factors, the district may as an alternative require a
student in that grade level to participate in moderate or vigorous
physical activity for at least 135 minutes during each school week.
Additionally, a school district may as an alternative require a
student enrolled in a grade level for which the district uses block
scheduling to participate in moderate or vigorous physical activity
for at least 225 minutes during each period of two school weeks. A
school district must provide for an exemption for:
(1) any student who is unable to participate in the
required physical activity because of illness or disability; and
(2) a middle school or junior high school student who
participates in an extracurricular activity with a moderate or
vigorous physical activity component that is considered a
structured activity under rules adopted by the commissioner.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
school year.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.