CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5551



61st Legislature
2009 Regular Session

Passed by the Senate March 3, 2009
  YEAS 41   NAYS 6


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President of the Senate
Passed by the House April 8, 2009
  YEAS 94   NAYS 4


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Speaker of the House of Representatives


CERTIFICATE

I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5551 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.


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Secretary
Approved 









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Governor of the State of Washington
FILED







Secretary of State
State of Washington


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SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5551
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Passed Legislature - 2009 Regular Session
State of Washington61st Legislature2009 Regular Session

By Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Franklin, Keiser, Kastama, Marr, Murray, McDermott, Shin, McAuliffe, Fairley, Kline, Pridemore, Oemig, Regala, Kauffman, and Kohl-Welles)

READ FIRST TIME 02/11/09.   



     AN ACT Relating to recess periods for elementary school students; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that students at the elementary level must have the opportunity to participate in daily recess. The legislature also finds that recess provides children with unstructured time to engage in physical activity that helps to develop healthy minds and bodies. As childhood obesity rates rise, it is important to ensure that children have the time for physical activity. Insufficient physical activity and excessive calories consumed is well-known as a critical factor for this alarming increase in overweight and obese children. As Washington state strives to be the healthiest state in the nation, we must continue to encourage our children to engage in physical activity so they can develop a healthy mind and body.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall collaborate with the statewide parent-teacher organization to conduct and report the results of a survey of Washington elementary schools to determine the current availability of recess for elementary students and the perceptions of the importance of recess in Washington elementary schools. The survey shall include, but not be limited to, the following inquiries:
     (a) How much time does the elementary school devote for recess each day?
     (b) Whether the amount of time devoted to recess has decreased or increased and why?
     (c) Is recess a structured or unstructured activity at the school?
     (d) How is recess provided during inclement weather?
     (e) If recess is part of the scheduled day at your school, may an individual teacher keep a student from participating in recess for academic or discipline reasons?
     (f) Do you believe that recess is a necessary part of the school day?
     (2) By December 1, 2009, the responses to the survey shall be aggregated and reported to the appropriate committees of the legislature.

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