83R1192 KKA-D
By: Rodriguez S.B. No. 525
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to physical activity requirements for students in public
schools.
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 a student [students] enrolled in grade level [levels]
six, seven, or [and] eight to participate in moderate or vigorous
daily physical activity for at least 30 minutes throughout the
school year [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 2013-2014
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, 2013.