BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 1873

By: Hinojosa

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties note the importance of having access to information concerning student participation in physical education classes. S.B. 1873 seeks to increase such access by providing for a report on the physical education provided by each school district.

 

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

 

S.B. 1873 amends the Education Code to require the commissioner of education, not later than one year after the Texas Education Agency (TEA) receives from each school district certain health and safety information relating to student health and physical activity, to complete a report on physical education provided by each school district and publish the report on the TEA website. The bill requires the report to include the number of physical education classes offered at each campus in the district and detail the number of days, classes, and minutes offered each week by each campus; the ratio of students enrolled in physical education classes in the district compared to the overall enrollment; the average physical education class size at each campus in the district; the number of physical education teachers in the district who are licensed, certified, or endorsed by an accredited teacher preparation program to teach physical education; whether each campus in the district has the appropriate equipment and adequate facilities for students to engage in the amount and intensity of physical activity required by law; whether the district allows modifications or accommodations that allow physical education courses to meet the needs of students with disabilities; and whether the district has a policy that allows teachers or administrators in the district to withhold physical activity from a student as punishment.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

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