BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 355
85R4936 SRS-D	By: Watson
	Education
	4/25/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

S.B. 355 requires school districts to adopt a formal recess policy for the district. It does not set out requirements for what the recess policy must be. Rather, the bill does require that the policy specify the number of minutes (decided by the district) for recess and whether or not recess may be withheld as a form of punishment. The values of recess have been seen, both in areas of child health, but also in student academic achievement, and by requiring a formal recess policy be implemented, it will be easier for parents to have a clear understanding of what level of recess their child will be receiving.

As proposed, S.B. 355 amends current law relating to the adoption and implementation of a recess policy by public school districts.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, by adding Section 28.0042, as follows:

Sec. 28.0042. RECESS POLICY. (a) Requires the board of trustees (board) of each school district, after reviewing the policy recommendations of the local school health advisory council (council) provided under Section 28.004(l) (relating to policy considerations made by the council to the district concerning the importance of daily recess for elementary schools), to adopt a recess policy and to review and, if necessary, revise the recess policy at least every five years.�

(b) 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.

(c) Requires each school district campus subject to the adopted district recess policy to implement the recess policy.

SECTION 2. (a) Requires the board of each school district, not later than May 1, 2018, to adopt a recess policy as required by Section 28.0042, Education Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Requires each school district campus subject to a school district recess policy adopted under Section 28.0042, Education Code, as added by this Act, to implement the policy not later than the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.