By The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, AL — Students in grades K-8 will find it harder to get out of physical education classes under a bill approved by an Alabama House committee.

The House education policy committee approved a bill Wednesday that would require students in K-8 to take physical education with exceptions allowed only for Jr. ROTC and band.

Students in those grades are now required to take physical education, but many exceptions are allowed.

The bill passed the Legislature last year, but was vetoed by Gov. Bob Riley.

The sponsor of the bill, Democratic Rep. Ken Guin of Carbon Hill, lost 20 pounds after he first introduced the bill several years ago to illustrate the problem of childhood obesity.