School Recess Bill Clears Florida Senate

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida elementary school kids will get 20 minutes of recess time daily under a bill that cleared the Senate Tuesday. A slightly different version of the measure moving through the House, however, could prevent the proposal from reaching Gov. Rick Scott’s desk anytime soon.

The Senate version of the bill calls for 20 minutes of “free-play recess” built into each academic day for elementary school kids. The bill was approved unanimously when brought up for a vote on April 4.

A similar, but not exact measure is also moving through the House. That bill would allow “free-play recess to be part of physical education classes” for elementary school kids. It also would require recess on days students don’t have physical education classes. The House’s version has cleared a few hurdles, but is now in the hands of the pre-K through 12-grade appropriations subcommittee.

See also: Florida Mom Fights For Recess In Schools

The Senate’s bill would apply to kids in kindergarten through the fifth grade. The House’s language in regard to “free-play recess” only applies to kids in kindergarten through the third grade. Whether the two chambers will be able to reconcile their versions to send one to Scott’s desk this year remains unclear. Should a version hit Scott’s desk and gain his signature, the new rules would go into place on July 1.

A lack of a uniform recess policy across the state made headlines in 2015 when a Polk County mother began a petition requesting 20 minutes of recess daily. The petition garnered hundreds of signatures.

A similar proposal was floated during last year’s legislative session. The 2016 bill sailed through the House, but was dead on arrival in the Senate where former Sen. John Legg, the once chairman of the Senate’s committee on education, shut it down.

The Senate’s 2017 version of the recess bill can be read on its website. The House also has its version published online.

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