Massachusetts H 454: An Act providing for mandatory recess time in elementary schools

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2168 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 454

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Paul K. Frost
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act providing for mandatory recess time in elementary schools.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Paul K. Frost 7th Worcester 1/17/2019
Timothy R. Whelan 1st Barnstable 1/29/2019

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2168 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 454
By Mr. Frost of Auburn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 454) of Paul K. Frost and
Timothy R. Whelan relative to mandatory recess time in elementary schools. Education.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2848 OF 2017-2018.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act providing for mandatory recess time in elementary schools.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4A, as
2 appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, the following section:-
3 Section 4B. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no public
4 elementary school shall decrease the amount of time it allots and provides to students as recess
5 time designed to allow students to participate in physical and social activities as a result of any
6 changes in standards or curriculum that the school is required to or chooses to adopt. For
7 purposes of this section, “elementary school” shall mean a school providing instruction to grades
8 1 through 5, and, where so designated by a school committee prior to the commencement of a
9 school year, may also include a middle school or other intermediate level school providing
10 instruction to grades 5 through 6 or any combination thereof.