ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has vetoed a number of bills passed by the General Assembly during the 2019 session, including House Bill 83, which would have mandated recess policies for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
In a statement, Kemp said he supports expanded recess for students across the state -- but that local school boards already have the authority to establish policies to expand recess within their individual schools. Kemp further emphasizes that he believes in local control by school officials.
"This local control allows school boards to set these policies based on a thorough understanding of day-to-day educational operations as well as regular interactions with administrators, educators, families, and students," Kemp said in his veto message for House Bill 83. "While I support expanded recess opportunities for Georgia's students, I am a firm believer in local control, especially in education."
The governor says that by mandating recess statewide in this fashion, it would unjustifiably remove a measure of that local control.
"This legislation would impose unreasonable burdens on educational leaders without meaningful justification," Kemp said.