101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5131

 

Introduced 2/18/2020, by Rep. Aaron M. Ortiz

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-6.3 new

    Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall require that schools provide daily time for supervised, unstructured, child-directed play for all students in kindergarten through grade 8. Provides that the time allotted for play must be at least 60 minutes and play periods shall be at least 15 consecutive minutes in length. Provides that play time must allow for unstructured play, may include organized games, and shall not include the use of computers, tablets, phones, or videos. Prohibits the withholding of play time as a disciplinary or punitive action. Provides that play time does not count as a course of physical education and that a course of physical education does not count towards the daily time for play. Provides that play time shall be considered clock hours. Effective July 1, 2020.


LRB101 19327 CMG 68796 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5131LRB101 19327 CMG 68796 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
527-6.3 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-6.3 new)
7    Sec. 27-6.3. Play time required in elementary school.
8    (a) A school board shall require that schools provide daily
9time for supervised, unstructured, child-directed play for all
10students in kindergarten through grade 8. The total time
11allotted for play must be at least 60 minutes. Play periods
12shall be at least 15 consecutive minutes in length. Play time
13must allow unstructured play, may include organized games, and
14shall not include the use of computers, tablets, phones, or
15videos. Schools are encouraged to provide play time outdoors,
16but play time may be held indoors.
17    (b) Play time does not count as a course of physical
18education that fulfills the requirements of Section 27-6 of
19this Code. Time spent in a course of physical education that
20fulfills the requirements of Section 27-6 of this Code does not
21count towards the daily time for play.
22    (c) A school board shall prohibit the withholding of play
23time as a disciplinary or punitive action.

 

 

HB5131- 2 -LRB101 19327 CMG 68796 b

1    (d) Play time shall be considered clock hours for the
2purposes of Section 10-19.05 of this Code.
 
3    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
42020.