S226

An Act establishing a Task Force on Public School Student Recess.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. There is established a Task Force on Public School Student Recess to consist of the following 13 members: the Commissioner of Education, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio; two members of the General Assembly, one member to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and one member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; two members of the Senate, one member to be appointed by the President of the Senate and one member to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and five members to be appointed by the Governor including one each from the American Academy of Pediatrics – New Jersey Chapter, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and the New Jersey Education Association; and three public members, one to be appointed by the Governor, one to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and one to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly.

2. All appointments to the task force shall be made within 30 days after the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force.

3. The task force shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of its members and shall choose a chairperson from among its members and shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force. For purposes of convening a task force meeting, a quorum shall consist of 5 members; for purposes of adopting task force recommendations, a majority of the total task force membership shall be required.

4. The Department of Education shall provide such stenographic, clerical and other administrative assistants, and such professional staff, as the task force requires to carry out its work. The task force shall also be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available for its purposes.

5. It shall be the duty of the task force to study the social and health benefits of student recess and develop recommendations on the advisability of making student recess mandatory in all school districts. The task force shall:

a. examine current data, research, programs, and initiatives related to the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual benefits achieved by young students as a result of participation in school recess;

b. identify effective strategies for schools that promote lifelong health and prepare children and youth for physically active lifestyles;

c. examine the extent to which recess is provided to students in school districts across the State of New Jersey; and,

d. develop recommendations on the advisability of mandating daily recess in all school districts.

6. The task force shall issue a final report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), containing its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation that it deems appropriate, no later than nine months after the task force organizes.

7. This act shall take effect immediately and the task force shall expire on the 30th day after the issuance of its final report.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the Task Force on Public School Student Recess. The task force is to consist of 13 members including: the Commissioner of Education, or a designee; two members of the General Assembly, one appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; two members of the Senate, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and five members appointed by the Governor, including one each from the American Academy of Pediatrics – New Jersey Chapter, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and the New Jersey Education Association; and three public members, one to be appointed by the Governor, one by the President of the Senate, and one by the Speaker of the General Assembly.

It will be the duty of the task force to: examine current data, research, programs, and initiatives related to the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual benefits achieved by young students as a result of participation in school recess; identify effective strategies for schools that promote lifelong health and prepare children and youth for physically active lifestyles; examine the extent to which recess is provided to students in school districts across the State of New Jersey; and develop recommendations on the advisability of mandating daily recess in all school districts.

The task force is directed to issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than nine months after the task force organizes.