BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 692

By: Farias

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Physical education is a required curriculum element and an essential part of the state's basic educational program. Interested parties assert that every student is entitled to participate in a physical activity program, specially designed if necessary, as a well-planned, sequential program of physical education contributes significantly to the learning experience of all students, particularly students with disabilities.

Certain students with extreme disabilities, however, have conditions which preclude them from active participation in general physical education. H.B. 692 seeks to allow a student who is unable to participate in physical activity due to disability or illness to substitute one credit in English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies or one academic elective credit for the physical education credit.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 692 amends the Education Code to require the State Board of Education, in adopting rules regarding the curriculum requirements for the minimum, recommended, and advanced high school programs, to allow a student who is unable to participate in physical activity due to disability or illness to substitute one credit in English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies or one academic elective credit for the required physical education credit. The bill prohibits a substituted credit from also being used by the student to satisfy a graduation requirement other than completion of the physical education credit and requires the rules to provide that the determination regarding a student's ability to participate in physical activity will be made by the following committees: the student's admission, review, and dismissal committee if the student receives special education services; the committee established for the student under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the student does not receive state special education services but is covered by that federal law; or a committee established by the school district in which the student is enrolled of persons with appropriate knowledge regarding the student if the other committees described are inapplicable.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.