The American Academy of Pediatrics says recess allows a child physical activity and a way to spend excess energy, which offers cognitive and emotional benefits in the classroom.

Right now, Arizona’s largest elementary school district limits lunch time recess to 20-minutes.

It’s why freshman State Representative and former school teacher Jesus Rubalcava asked fellow lawmakers to consider House Bill 2082. The bill would mandate schools offer 50 minutes of play each day for kindergarten through fifth grade students.

“For many children, especially those considered hyperactive,” Rubalcava said, “recess is an opportunity to expend energy in a healthy, suitable manner.”

Anecdotally, he shared with fellow House Education Committee members how allowing children to engage in "loud, messy behavior" resulted in more productive behavior at the school where he taught.

The bill unanimously passed the committee after facing some push back. Prescott Republican Representative David Stringer had issue with the bill being written as a mandate.

“If the research on this is so strong,” Stringer asked, “then why wouldn’t charter schools and individual districts and individual school governing boards implement it?”

House Bill 2082 has bi-lateral support. Republican Representative Rusty Bowers supports it from a practical stance. 

“There’s a real-life component of the rough and tumble of life,” he said, adding that it gives kids a chance to socially interact and independently sort out differences.

The bill faces greater debate when it goes to the full house, namely: Where schools will find the time between increasing curriculum demands.