MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2002 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Representative Lott, Clarke, Cameron, Evans, Fredericks, Frierson, Ketchings, Martinson, Moore (60th), Robertson
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-133, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL EMPLOY A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COORDINATOR K-12; TO CODIFY NEW SECTION 37-13-134, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO SPECIFY THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COORDINATOR; TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS, THE MISSISSIPPI COUNCIL ON OBESITY PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT, THE TASK FORCE ON HEART DISEASE AND STROKE PREVENTION AND THE MISSISSIPPI ALLIANCE FOR SCHOOL HEALTH SHALL PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REGARDING THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COORDINATOR, AND THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THOSE ENTITIES IN EMPLOYING THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COORDINATOR; TO REQUIRE THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COORDINATOR TO PRESENT A STATE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PLAN EACH YEAR TO THOSE ENTITIES; TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2003-2004 SCHOOL YEAR, EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH ANY OF GRADES K-6 SHALL PROVIDE FOR NOT LESS THAN THIRTY MINUTES OF QUALITY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR THE STUDENTS EACH SCHOOL DAY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE SCHOOLS SHALL COORDINATE THE PROVIDING OF THIS DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY WITH THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COORDINATOR, AND THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COORDINATOR SHALL PROMOTE AND SUPERVISE THE PROVIDING OF THIS DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BY THE SCHOOLS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-13-133, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-13-133. Under the provisions of Section 37-13-131, the State Department of Education may provide for the services of a School Health Services Coordinator, School Instruction Coordinator, School Environmental Specialist, * * * and such other professional and nonprofessional staff as may be needed and as funds available to the department will permit. The State Department of Education shall employ a Physical Activity Coordinator K-12 not later than September 1, 2002, in accordance with the provisions of Section 37-13-134. It shall be the responsibility of that professional staff to coordinate efforts of the personnel of the State Department of Education, the state's colleges and universities, local public schools and other appropriate agencies to provide the comprehensive health education curriculum.
SECTION 2. The following shall be codified as Section 37-13-134, Mississippi Code of 1972:
37-13-134. (1) The Physical Activity Coordinator employed under Section 37-13-133 must have the qualifications prescribed in any of the following paragraphs, which are listed in the order of preference:
(a) A doctorate in physical education, exercise science or a highly related field, and at least three (3) years of experience in teaching physical education in grades K-12 or in physical activity promotion/fitness leadership; or
(b) A master's degree in physical education, exercise science or a highly related field, and at least five (5) years of experience in teaching physical education in grades K-12 or in physical activity promotion/fitness leadership; or
(c) A bachelor's degree in physical education, a teacher's license, and at least seven (7) years of experience in teaching physical education in grades K-12 or in physical activity promotion/fitness leadership.
(2) The Governor's Commission on Physical Fitness and Sports created under Section 7-1-551 et seq., the Mississippi Council on Obesity Prevention and Management created under Section 41-101-1 et seq., the Task Force on Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention created under Section 41-103-1 et seq., and the Mississippi Alliance for School Health shall provide recommendations to the State Department of Education regarding the employment of the Physical Activity Coordinator. The department shall consider the recommendations of those entities in employing the Physical Activity Coordinator.
(3) The Physical Activity Coordinator shall present a state physical activity plan each year to the Governor's Commission on Physical Fitness and Sports, the Mississippi Council on Obesity Prevention and Management, the Task Force on Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, and the Mississippi Alliance for School Health.
SECTION 3. Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, each public school in the state with any of the grades K-6 shall provide for not less than thirty (30) minutes of quality physical activity for the students each school day. The schools shall coordinate the providing of this daily physical activity with the Physical Activity Coordinator of the State Department of Education, and the Physical Activity Coordinator shall promote and supervise the providing of this daily physical activity by the schools.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.