Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, Senate Committee on Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB355 by Watson (Relating to the adoption and implementation of a recess policy by public school districts.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require each school district to adopt a recess policy by May 1, 2018. Such a policy would have to specify the required number of minutes of weekly unstructured playtime and specify whether a student's recess playtime could be withheld for disciplinary reasons. Each campus in a district subject to the district's recess policy would be required to implement the policy no later than the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year. A school district would have to review and, if necessary, revise its recess policy at least every five years.
The bill would take immediate effect if it receives a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Education Agency, some school districts could incur nominal costs associated with adopting and periodically reviewing their recess policies.