BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3145

By: Deshotel

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties explain the benefits of recess in public schools while noting a trend in which regular recess periods are reduced or eliminated. H.B. 3145 seeks to reverse this trend by requiring the adoption and implementation of a recess policy by public school districts.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 3145 amends the Education Code to require the board of trustees of each public school district to adopt a recess policy after reviewing the policy recommendations of the local school health advisory council concerning daily recess for elementary school students but not later than May 1, 2018, and to review and, if necessary, revise the recess policy at least every five years. The bill requires the recess policy to specify the required number of minutes of weekly unstructured playtime and whether a student's recess time may be withheld as a form of student discipline. The bill requires each school district campus subject to the adopted district recess policy to implement the recess policy not later than the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.