Physical Education and Health Legislation
H.B. 1051 - Diabetes Management in Schools Act
H.B. 2239 - Self Administration of Anaphylaxis Medication
S.B. 312 - Physical Education
S.B. 519 - Physical Fitness Assessment Program and Pilots
S.B. 923 - Automated External Defibrillators
S.B. 1186 - Additional 60 Minutes of Physical Activity Requirement
S.B. 1459 - Healthy and Fit School Advisory Committee
S.B. 1627 - The Health and Fit Kids Act
S.B. 1700 - Sports Related Injuries
S.B. 1876 - Physical Education
House Bill 1051 - Diabetes Management in School Act
Effective July 1, 2007, the Diabetes Management in Schools Act requires:
- That a diabetes medical management plan be developed for each student with diabetes.
- If a school does not have the services of a school nurse, they shall make an effort to recruit a volunteer diabetes care assistant.
- The State Department of Health will develop guidelines and supervise training of the volunteer diabetes care assistant.
- Each school district shall provide to each school employee responsible for transporting a diabetic student an information sheet for responding to an emergency.
- The school will allow the diabetic student to manage his care, assessment, and treatment as needed while attending school or school activities. The school shall provide a private area where the student may attend to the management of their diabetes.
- A school nurse shall not be liable for the actions performed by the volunteer diabetes care assistant.
House Bill 2239 - Self-Administration of Anaphylaxis Medication
House Bill 2239 amends 70 O.S. § 1-116.3 to include adoption of a policy on or before September 1, 2008, that permits the self-administration of anaphylaxis medication by a student for treatment of anaphylaxis.
This amendment expands previous legislation that directs local school boards to adopt a policy permitting the self-administration of inhaled asthma medication by a student for treatment of asthma. Anaphylaxis medication includes but is not limited to Epinephrine injectors, prescribed by a physician and having an individual label. A student who is permitted to self-administer anaphylaxis medication shall be permitted to possess and use the anaphylaxis medication at all times for the school year in which permission for self-administration is effective.
Effective November 1, 2005, school districts must provide physical education programs to all students, which may include athletics. In addition, elementary schools are required to provide instruction in physical education or exercise programs for students in full-day Kindergarten through Grade 5 for a minimum of 60 minutes per week.
This bill further requires:
- The State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement this law.
- School districts to strongly encourage students to complete two units of physical education and health education as a graduation requirement.
- Physical Education instruction to be aligned with the Priority Academic Student Skills.
- The State Board of Education to disseminate information about the benefits of physical education to each school district.
Senate Bill 519 - Physical Fitness Assessment Program and Pilots
S.B. 519 directs the State Department of Education and the State Department of Health to facilitate the development of a physical fitness assessment software program customized for public schools, effective July 1, 2008.
The software will track five components of student health-related physical fitness, including aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and a weight status assessment that includes measurement of height and weight, calculation of body mass index for age, and plotting of these measures on standard growth charts.
The software shall have the capability of creating a confidential individual student report. The program will be developed and made accessible to school districts at no cost.
The State Department of Health shall select at least fifteen elementary schools statewide to pilot the software program during the 2008-2009 school year. Pilot schools will assess all participating students in Grades three, four, and five. No school selected to participate in the pilot program shall be required to utilize the software program. No student shall be required to participate in the assessment if a parent or guardian of the student objects in writing.
Senate Bill 923 - Automated External Defibrillators
Senate Bill 923, effective July 1, 2008, mandates that automated external defibrillators be made available at schools if funding is available. Purchase of defibrillators is contingent upon the availability of federal money or donations from private organizations or from persons made for this purpose. The school district may make automated external defibrillators available at high school athletic practice or competition in the district.
Any school district that makes automated external defibrillators available in schools or on school district property shall be immune from civil liability for personal injury which results from the use of the device, except for acts of gross negligence or willful wanton misconduct in accordance with Title 76 Section 5A. The State Department of Education will make available to school districts a list of private organizations or persons willing to make donations or that have resources available to schools for this purpose, federal programs or grants, and any other source of funding that school districts may use to purchase automated external defibrillators. The Department will also provide public recognition for private organizations or persons that provide funding to school districts for the purpose of purchasing automated external defibrillators.
Senate Bill 1186 - Additional 60 Minutes of Physical Activity Requirement
Senate Bill 1186 amends 70 O.S. § 11-103.9 beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. The amendment requires that public elementary schools provide to students in full-day Kindergarten and Grades one through five an average of an additional 60 minutes of physical activity each week, which may include, but not be limited to, physical education, exercise programs, fitness breaks, recess, classroom activities, and wellness and nutrition education.
This is a requirement for accreditation and each local school board shall determine the specific activities and means of compliance. Local boards should give consideration to the recommendations of each school’s Health and Fit Schools Advisory Committee in determining specific activities.
Senate Bill 1459 - Healthy and Fit School Advisory Committee
In order to assist the Healthy and Fit School Advisory Committees in formulating recommendations about the health and physical activity of students, Senate Bill 1459 directs the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Health, to make available to schools information and technical assistance for use in:
- Establishing healthy school nutrition environments;
- Reducing childhood obesity;
- Developing quality physical education and activity programs;
- Preventing diet-related chronic diseases; and
- Establishing, implementing, and evaluating school wellness policies.
The Healthy and Fit School Advisory Committees are encouraged to use the School Health Index available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site or Oklahoma's Healthy and Fit Schools Scorecard available on the Governor's Council of Physical Fitness and Sports Web site as a program assessment and monitoring instrument.
Senate Bill 1627 - The Healthy and Fit Kids Act
The purpose of Senate Bill 1627 provides for a Healthy and Fit School Advisory Committee to be established at all public school sites. The committee shall:
- Study and make recommendations to the principal regarding health education, physical education, physical activity, nutrition, and health services.
- Be composed of at lease six members, including; teachers, administrators, parents of students, health care professionals, and business community representatives. The committee may be combined with its Safe School Committee, established pursuant to Section 24-100.5 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statues.
Senate Bill 1700 - Sports Related Injuries
Senate Bill 1700 was effective July 1, 2010. This new law provides for the development and implementation of guidelines for school personnel and student athletes related to sports related head injuries.
The law directs each local school board to work in cooperation with the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association to develop guidelines, notification procedures, and other pertinent information and forms regarding the risk of concussion and head injury for student athletes.
Additional language provides for the removal from participation of a student athlete and requirements to return to play for the athlete.
Senate Bill 1876 - Physical Education
Senate Bill 1876 was effective November 1, 2010. This amendatory law provides for the implementation of a sequential, developmentally appropriate physical education curriculum and requires that at least fifty percent (50%) of physical education activities be performed at a moderate or vigorous level.
Amendatory language directs each school district to establish specific objectives and goals for the district’s physical education curriculum and directs the State Board of Education to ensure that schools emphasize: the knowledge and skills appropriate for a lifetime of regular physical activity; moderate or vigorous activity levels; opportunity to participate in many types of physical activity including cooperative and competitive games; meets the needs of students of all physical ability levels; teaches self-management and movement skills, cooperation, fair play, and responsible participation; promotes physical activity outside of school; and allows physical education classes to be an enjoyable experience for students.
