Bill Text: NJ S3447 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Allows public schools to let certain students not enrolled in school participate in high school interscholastic athletics; allows public high schools in same district to enter into cooperative sports programs under certain conditions.**
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)
Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2018-01-08 - Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (52-14-4) [S3447 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S3447-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Allen
SYNOPSIS
Requires public schools to allow certain students not enrolled in school to participate in interscholastic athletics; allows public high schools in same district to enter into cooperative sports programs under certain conditions.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As amended by the Senate on December 18, 2017.
An Act concerning 1[certain Statewide]1 interscholastic sports programs and supplementing chapter 11 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association shall allow public high schools in the same school district to enter into a cooperative sports program for any sport at the varsity level, regardless of the member schools' Group classification, if either of the schools demonstrates an inability to field a team at the varsity level due to: a decline in interest or participation in the sport at one of the schools that impacts the ability of that school to safely field a team; or budgetary constraints which force the elimination of certain sports programs at one of the schools.
12. a. A board of education, other than a board of education of a county vocational school district, shall permit a student who attends a nonpublic school and who meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, a school-sponsored interscholastic athletics team or squad in the student's district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district if the nonpublic school does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. Any controversy concerning a student's compliance with the eligibility requirements for student-athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association shall be adjudicated by the association in accordance with its constitution and by-laws.
A student who attends a nonpublic school who wishes to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad in his resident district shall:
(1) provide proof that he resides in the district; and
(2) meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. A nonpublic school student shall comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad.
b. A student who withdraws from a school district to enroll in a nonpublic school and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the school district due to his failure to meet academic, behavioral, or eligibility standards, shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletic competition in accordance with the rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.1
13. a. A board of education, other than a board of education of a county vocational school district, shall permit a student who receives equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school pursuant to N.J.S.18A:38-25 and who meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, school-sponsored interscholastic athletics in the student's district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district. Any controversy concerning a student's compliance with the eligibility requirements for student-athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association shall be adjudicated by the association in accordance with its constitution and by-laws.
A student who receives such instruction who wishes to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad in his resident district shall:
(1) provide proof that he resides in the district;
(2) meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. The student shall comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad; and
(3) demonstrate to the board of education that he is receiving an academically equivalent education compared to students enrolled in the school district and that he is academically qualified to participate.
b. A student who withdraws from a public school to receive an equivalent instructional program elsewhere than at school and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the public school due to his failure to meet academic, behavioral, or eligibility standards, shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletic competition in accordance with the rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.
c. The Department of Education shall develop guidelines for school districts in making a determination in regard to the demonstration required pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection a. of this section for only the purposes of eligibility to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad.1
14. a. A board of education, other than a board of education of a county vocational school district, shall permit a student who attends a charter school and who meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, a school-sponsored interscholastic athletics team or squad in the student's district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district if the charter school does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. Any controversy concerning a student's compliance with the eligibility requirements for student-athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association shall be adjudicated by the association in accordance with its constitution and by-laws.
A student who attends a charter school who wishes to compete on an interscholastic sports team or squad in his resident district shall:
(1) provide proof that he resides in the district; and
(2) meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. A charter school student shall comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad.
b. A student who withdraws from a school district to enroll in a charter school and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the school district due to his failure to meet academic, behavioral, or eligibility standards, shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletic competition in accordance with the rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.1
15. a. A board of trustees of a charter school shall permit a student who attends a public school that is not a charter school or a school of a county vocational school district, and who resides in the charter school's district of residence, and who meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, a charter school-sponsored interscholastic athletics team or squad in accordance with the same criteria established for a student enrolled in the charter school if the public school that is not a charter school or a school of a county vocational school district does not sponsor an interscholastic sports team or squad in the sport in which the student wishes to participate. Any controversy concerning a student's compliance with the eligibility requirements for student-athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association shall be adjudicated by the association in accordance with its constitution and by-laws.
A student who attends a public school that is not a charter school or a school of a county vocational school district who wishes to compete on a charter school interscholastic sports team or squad shall:
(1) provide proof that he resides in the charter school district of residence; and
(2) meet the sports participation requirements established by the charter school for students enrolled in the charter school such as physical examinations, insurance, age, academic, and other requirements. The student shall comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad.
b. A student who withdraws from a charter school to enroll in a public school that is not a charter school or a school of a county vocational school district and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the charter school due to his failure to meet academic, behavioral, or eligibility standards, shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletic competition in accordance with the rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.1
16. a. Nothing in this act shall be construed to require a school district or charter school to provide transportation services or pay transportation costs associated with a student's participation in interscholastic athletics pursuant to the provisions of sections 2 through 5 of this act.
b. Nothing in this act shall be construed to require a school district or charter school to change the schedules, procedures, or participation requirements of an interscholastic sports team or squad to accommodate a student who wishes to participate in interscholastic athletics pursuant to the provisions of sections 2 through 5 of this act.1
1[2.] 7.1 This act shall take effect immediately.
