BILL REQ. #:  H-2493.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/28/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to improving the physical health of students; adding a new section to chapter 28A.230 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that good physical health is vital to the overall well-being of Washington's youth. Regular physical activity is essential to good physical health, and schools are a logical place for youth to engage in physical activity. It is therefore the intent of the legislature to ensure that during each school day students are provided with adequate opportunities to engage in physical activity.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.230 RCW to read as follows:
     All public schools must provide to students, in each of grades kindergarten through twelve, opportunities for at least forty minutes of physical activity each school day, except that where there are fewer than three instructional hours in a school day, schools must provide opportunities for at least thirty minutes of physical activity each school day. Such opportunities may include recess, a physical education class, or other school activities, but must in all instances allow students to be physically active. The hour must be available during instructional hours and may be provided in one block of time or in varying increments throughout the school day. Opportunities to participate in school athletic programs, where the activity occurs before or after instructional hours, do not satisfy this requirement.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act takes effect September 1, 2007.