Bill Status
Physical Education and Health Education Requirement Bill
House File 2209
H.F. 2209 was introduced in the House on February 19, 2004 and referred to the House Education Policy Committee.
The House Education Policy Committee will not hear the bill this session.
On March 31, the House Omnibus K-12 Education and Higher Education Finance bill (H.F. 1793) was debated on the House floor. Originally, this omnibus bill did not include language to require health and physical education. During the debate on the bill, Rep. Tony Sertich and Rep. Connie Bernardy offered an amendment to include a requirement for health and physical education. The amendment passed with bipartisan support of a 94-36 vote. The bill will be debated in conference committee.
Senate File 1882
Senate File 1882 was introduced in the Senate on February 12, 2004 and referred to the Education Committee.
The Senate Education Committee heard the bill on March 4, 2004 at 3:30 in State Capitol Room 15. The bill was amended and referred to the Senate Finance Committee K-12 Education Budget Division, which will consider including it in an omnibus education bill to be developed later during the session.
The provisions of S.F. 1882 have been amended into a broader Omnibus Education Policy bill, S.F. 1774, by the Senate Education Policy Committee.
The Education Policy Omnibus bill, S.F. 1774, moves to the Senate Finance Committee K-12 Education Budget Division where it will be heard on March 31, 2004, at 9:00 a.m.
During the Education Omnibus Conference Committee, health and physical education were added to the "Required" content areas; however, they were not included in the "Graduation Requirements." This means that health and physical education are required content areas, but it is left up to the school district to decide on the amount of time spent on this content. Also, the decision to require health and physical education for graduation is left up to the school districts.
Return to 2004 Legislative Session
