85R12207 SRS-D
 
  By: Allen H.B. No. 2884
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to health and physical education requirements in public
  schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (l) and adding Subsection (l-4) to read as
  follows:
         (l)  A school district shall require a student enrolled in
  full-day prekindergarten, in kindergarten, or in a grade level
  below grade six to participate in moderate or vigorous daily
  physical activity for at least 30 minutes throughout the school
  year as part of the district's physical education curriculum or
  through structured activity during a school campus's daily
  recess.  To the extent practicable, a school district shall require
  a student enrolled in prekindergarten on less than a full-day basis
  to participate in the same type and amount of physical activity as a
  student enrolled in full-day prekindergarten. A school district
  shall require students enrolled in grade levels six, seven, and
  eight to participate in moderate or vigorous daily physical
  activity for at least 30 minutes for six [at least four] semesters
  during those grade levels as part of the district's physical
  education curriculum.  If a school district determines, for any
  particular grade level below grade six, that requiring moderate or
  vigorous daily physical activity is impractical due to scheduling
  concerns or other factors, the district may as an alternative
  require a student in that grade level to participate in moderate or
  vigorous physical activity for at least 135 minutes during each
  school week.  Additionally, a school district may as an alternative
  require a student enrolled in a grade level for which the district
  uses block scheduling to participate in moderate or vigorous
  physical activity for at least 225 minutes during each period of two
  school weeks.  A school district must provide for an exemption for:
               (1)  any student who is unable to participate in the
  required physical activity because of illness or disability; and
               (2)  a middle school or junior high school student who
  participates in an extracurricular activity with a moderate or
  vigorous physical activity component that is considered a
  structured activity under rules adopted by the commissioner.
         (l-4)  The agency shall develop and institute policies on the
  recess period during the school day that encourage constructive,
  age-appropriate outdoor playtime. The policies must include
  guidelines for outdoor equipment and facilities on public school
  campuses that maximize the effectiveness of outdoor physical
  activity.
         SECTION 2.  Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b-1)  The State Board of Education by rule shall require
  that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school
  program under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students
  successfully complete:
               (1)  four credits in English language arts under
  Section 28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one
  credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in
  an advanced English course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (2)  three credits in mathematics under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in
  geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course
  authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (3)  three credits in science under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any
  advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one
  credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional
  advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
               (4)  three credits in social studies under Section
  28.002(a)(1)(D), including one credit in United States history, at
  least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in
  economics, and one credit in world geography or world history;
               (5)  except as provided under Subsections (b-12),
  (b-13), and (b-14), two credits in the same language in a language
  other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A);
               (6)  four [five] elective credits;
               (7)  one credit in fine arts under Section
  28.002(a)(2)(D); [and]
               (8)  except as provided by Subsection (b-11), 1-1/2
  credits [one credit] in physical education under Section
  28.002(a)(2)(C); and
               (9)  one-half credit in health under Section
  28.002(a)(2)(B).
         SECTION 3.  Section 28.002(l), Education Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to students entering the sixth grade during
  the 2017-2018 school year or a later school year. For students
  entering a grade above sixth grade during the 2017-2018 school
  year, Section 28.002(l), Education Code, as that section existed
  before amendment by this Act, applies, and that section is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as amended
  by this Act, applies only to students entering the ninth grade
  during the 2017-2018 school year or a later school year. For
  students entering a grade above ninth grade during the 2017-2018
  school year, Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as that section
  existed before amendment by this Act, applies, and that section is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.