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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to physical activity and physical education requirements |
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in public schools. |
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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 |
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recess. To the extent practicable, a school district shall require |
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a 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 six [at least four] semesters |
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during those grade levels as part of the district's physical |
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education curriculum. If a school district determines, for any |
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particular grade level below grade six, that requiring moderate or |
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vigorous daily physical activity is impractical due to scheduling |
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concerns or other factors, the district may as an alternative |
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require a student in that grade level to participate in moderate or |
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vigorous physical activity for at least 135 minutes during each |
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school week. Additionally, a school district may as an alternative |
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require a student enrolled in a grade level for which the district |
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uses block scheduling to participate in moderate or vigorous |
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physical activity for at least 225 minutes during each period of two |
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school weeks. A 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. Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The State Board of Education by rule shall require |
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that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school |
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program under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students |
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successfully complete: |
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(1) four credits in English language arts under |
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Section 28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one |
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credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in |
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an advanced English course authorized under Subsection (b-2); |
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(2) three credits in mathematics under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in |
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geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course |
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authorized under Subsection (b-2); |
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(3) three credits in science under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any |
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advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one |
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credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional |
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advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2); |
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(4) three credits in social studies under Section |
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28.002(a)(1)(D), including one credit in United States history, at |
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least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in |
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economics, and one credit in world geography or world history; |
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(5) except as provided under Subsections (b-12), |
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(b-13), and (b-14), two credits in the same language in a language |
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other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A); |
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(6) 4-1/2 [five] elective credits; |
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(7) one credit in fine arts under Section |
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28.002(a)(2)(D); and |
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(8) except as provided by Subsection (b-11), 1-1/2 |
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credits [one credit] in physical education under Section |
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28.002(a)(2)(C). |
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SECTION 3. Section 28.002(l), Education Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to students entering the sixth grade during |
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the 2015-2016 school year or a later school year. For students |
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entering a grade above sixth grade during the 2015-2016 school |
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year, Section 28.002(l), Education Code, as that section existed |
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before amendment by this Act, applies, and that section is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as amended |
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by this Act, applies only to students entering the ninth grade |
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during the 2015-2016 school year or a later school year. For |
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students entering a grade above ninth grade during the 2015-2016 |
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school year, Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as that section |
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existed before amendment by this Act, applies, and that section is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2015. |