86R2272 SRS-F
By: Allen, Cortez, Beckley, Bowers, Talarico H.B. No. 455
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to policies on the recess period in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (l-4) to read as follows:
(l-4) The agency shall develop model policies on the recess
period during the school day that encourage constructive,
age-appropriate outdoor playtime. The model policies must include
guidelines for outdoor equipment and facilities on public school
campuses that maximize the effectiveness of outdoor physical
activity.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.0042 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0042. RECESS POLICY. (a) The board of trustees of
each school district shall:
(1) after reviewing the model recess policies
developed under Section 28.002(l-4) and the policy recommendations
of the local school health advisory council provided under Section
28.004(l), adopt a recess policy based on those model policies and
recommendations; and
(2) review and, if necessary, revise the recess policy
at least every five years.
(b) The recess policy must specify:
(1) the required number of minutes of weekly
unstructured playtime; and
(2) whether a student's recess time may be withheld as
a form of student discipline.
(c) Each school district campus subject to the district
recess policy adopted under Subsection (a) shall implement the
recess policy.
SECTION 3. (a) Not later than January 1, 2020, the Texas
Education Agency shall develop model recess policies as required by
Section 28.002(l-4), Education Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than May 1, 2020, the board of trustees of each
school district shall adopt a recess policy as required by Section
28.0042, Education Code, as added by this Act.
(c) Not later than the beginning of the 2020-2021 school
year, each school district campus subject to a school district
recess policy adopted under Section 28.0042, Education Code, as
added by this Act, shall implement the adopted policy.
SECTION 4. 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, 2019.