COAHPERD lobbyist report                                          April 17, 2011
Rick Metz, lobbyist
For the first time in Colorado history, a requirement for physical activity (with physical education language) has successfully made it through the General Session and into law.  House Bill 1069 requiring schools to offer 600 minutes per month (150/week) of physical activity to all elementary aged students passed the General Session and will be signed into law on Wednesday April 20, 2011.  Governor Hickenlooper will sign the bill in his office, publicly, at 2:00.  The Governor will be surrounded by physical activity and physical education advocates including your lobbyist and executive council members.  I have included the final writing of the bill for your review.  The main points of my lobbying effort are included in the bill, specifically, that “schools cannot substitute non-instructional physical activity for standard’s based physical education” and that “schools which exceed the requirement already shall not decrease their physical activity minutes as a result of this policy”.  This has been a long and at times difficult process but I’m thrilled that the work has paid off.  One of the great aspects of this legislative process was that the need for and benefits of quality physical education has been a part of each conversation along the way: House education committee, House floor, Senate education committee, Senate floor, House- Senate conference committee, House floor again for adoption and in the Governor’s office.   COAHPERD was part of a powerful team of PE/PA advocates and many “thank yous” will be expressed on Wednesday.  The General Session will conclude business on May 11, 2011 and I will continue to track legislation and then submit a final lobbyist report on that date.