Read the full stored bill text
A.B. 53
- *AB53*
ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 53–COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
(ON BEHALF OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR)
PREFILED NOVEMBER 19, 2024
____________
Referred to Committee on Education
SUMMARY—Establishes provisions relating to outdoor
recreational education. (BDR 34-509)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: May have Fiscal Impact.
Effect on the State: Yes.
CONTAINS UNFUNDED MANDATE (§ 1)
(NOT REQUESTED BY AFFECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT)
~
EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to education; providing for pupils in elementary
school to receive a certain amount of outdoor recess each
school day, wi th certain exceptions; authorizing the
approval of academic credit for outdoor recreational
activities under certain circumstances; and providing
other matters properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law requires the board of tru stees of each school district to provide 1
instruction in physical education to the pupils enrolled in the public schools within 2
the school district. (NRS 389.018) Section 1 of this bill requires the board of 3
trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school to adopt a 4
policy requiring at least 20 minutes of outdoor recess each school day for pupils in 5
kindergarten and grades 1 through 5. Section 1 requires the policy to include 6
provisions: (1) exempting certain pupils who are unable to participate in recess; (2) 7
prohibiting the denial of recess for reasons related to academics or behavior, except 8
in certain circumstances; and (3) requiring certain alternatives for outdoor recess 9
when weather or other conditions make outdoor recess unsafe or otherwise 10
inappropriate. 11
Section 2 of this bill authorizes the board of trustees of a school district or the 12
governing body of a charter school to authorize a pupil enrolled in junior high or 13
middle school or high school to receive academic credit for completing certain 14
approved outdoor recreational activities outside of school hours. 15
– 2 –
- *AB53*
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Chapter 388 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1
thereto a new section to read as follows: 2
1. The board of trustees of each school district shall adopt a 3
policy to require each elementary school in the school district to 4
provide recess each school day to pupils in kindergarten and 5
grades 1 to 5, inclusive. 6
2. The governing body of each charte r school that provides 7
instruction to pupils in kindergarten or grade 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 shall 8
adopt a policy to require each such school to provide recess each 9
school day to each such pupil. 10
3. The policy adopted pursuant to subsection 1 or 2 must 11
include, without limitation: 12
(a) A requirement that each elementary school within the 13
school district or the charter school, as applicable, provide at least 14
20 minutes of outdoor recess each school day to each pupil in 15
kindergarten or grade 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; 16
(b) A provision for an exemption if a pupil is unable to 17
participate in recess because of an illness or a disability or is 18
otherwise physically unable to participate in recess; 19
(c) A provision prohibiting a teacher, an administrator or any 20
other person from d enying a pupil the outdoor recess required 21
pursuant to paragraph (a) for reasons relating to behavior or 22
academics, except when: 23
(1) An academic goal cannot reasonably be achieved 24
through other means; or 25
(2) The safety or welfare of the pupil or other persons 26
cannot reasonably be protected through other means; and 27
(d) A provision for substituting appropriate indoor activities 28
for the outdoor recess required pursuant to paragraph (a) in the 29
event that weather or other conditions make outdoor recess unsafe 30
or otherwise inappropriate. 31
Sec. 2. Chapter 389 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 32
thereto a new section to read as follows: 33
1. The board of trustees of a school district or the governing 34
body of a charter school may authorize a pupil enrolled in a junior 35
high or middle school or a high school who completes an outdoor 36
recreational activity that is approved pursuant to subsection 2 to 37
receive credit toward the total number of credits required for 38
promotion to high school or graduation from high school , as 39
applicable. Any credit earned for completing an outdoor 40
recreational activ ity pursuant to this section must be applied 41
towards the pupil’s elective course credit. 42
– 3 –
- *AB53*
2. The board of trustees of a school district or the governing 1
body of a charter school may approve for credit pursuant to 2
subsection 1 an outdoor recreational activity that: 3
(a) Is completed outside of school hours; 4
(b) Requires a pupil to spend a significant amount of time 5
outdoors; and 6
(c) Teaches the pupil skills that are relevant to outdoor 7
education which may include, without limitation: 8
(1) Identifying plants and animals native to this State; 9
(2) Building trails; 10
(3) Restoring natural habitats; 11
(4) Outdoor survival skills; 12
(5) Outdoor sportsmanship skills, including, without 13
limitation, hiking and archery; and 14
(6) Bird watching. 15
3. If the board of trustees of a school district or the governing 16
body o f a charter school approves outdoor recreational activities 17
for credit pursuant to subsection 1, the board of trustees or 18
governing body, as applicable, shall prescribe the: 19
(a) Maximum amount of total credits that a pupil may earn for 20
completing outdoor recreational activities; 21
(b) Rules regarding how a pupil may apply for such credit 22
upon the completion of an approved outdoor recreational activity; 23
and 24
(c) Procedures for obtaining the consent of a parent or legal 25
guardian of a pupil before the pupil ma y participate in an outdoor 26
recreational activity for which credit will be granted. 27
4. This section shall not be construed to require the board of 28
trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter 29
school to provide, facilitate or spend money to provide, facilitate or 30
sponsor any outdoor recreational activity. 31
Sec. 3. The provisions of NRS 354.599 do not apply to any 32
additional expenses of a local government that are related to this act. 33
Sec. 4. 1. This section become s effective upon passage and 34
approval. 35
2. Sections 1, 2 and 3 of this act become effective: 36
(a) Upon passage and approval for the purpose of adopting any 37
regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative 38
tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; and 39
(b) On July 1, 2025, for all other purposes. 40
H