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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to physical activity requirements for students enrolled in |
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public school prekindergarten programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.002(l), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(l) A school district shall require a student enrolled in |
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full-day prekindergarten, in kindergarten, or in a grade level |
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below grade six to participate in moderate or vigorous daily |
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physical activity for at least 30 minutes throughout the school |
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year as part of the district's physical education curriculum or |
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through structured activity during a school campus's daily recess. |
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To the extent practicable, a school district shall require a |
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student enrolled in prekindergarten on less than a full-day basis |
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to participate in the same type and amount of physical activity as a |
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student enrolled in full-day prekindergarten. A school district |
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shall require students enrolled in grade levels six, seven, and |
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eight to participate in moderate or vigorous daily physical |
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activity for at least 30 minutes for at least four semesters during |
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those grade levels as part of the district's physical education |
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curriculum. If a school district determines, for any particular |
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grade level below grade six, that requiring moderate or vigorous |
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daily physical activity is impractical due to scheduling concerns |
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or other factors, the district may as an alternative require a |
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student in that grade level to participate in moderate or vigorous |
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physical activity for at least 135 minutes during each school week. |
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Additionally, a school district may as an alternative require a |
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student enrolled in a grade level for which the district uses block |
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scheduling to participate in moderate or vigorous physical activity |
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for at least 225 minutes during each period of two school weeks. A |
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school district must provide for an exemption for: |
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(1) any student who is unable to participate in the |
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required physical activity because of illness or disability; and |
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(2) a middle school or junior high school student who |
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participates in an extracurricular activity with a moderate or |
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vigorous physical activity component that is considered a |
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structured activity under rules adopted by the commissioner. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |