Bill Text: TX HB2322 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to equal opportunity for access by private and parochial school students to University Interscholastic League sponsored activities.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 12-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-09 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB2322 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB2322-Comm_Sub.html
82R8640 KKA-F | ||
By: Garza, Riddle, Weber, Pena, Turner, | H.B. No. 2322 | |
et al. |
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relating to equal opportunity for access by private and parochial | ||
school students to University Interscholastic League sponsored | ||
activities. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 33.0832 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 33.0832. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ACCESS TO UNIVERSITY | ||
INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ACTIVITIES. (a) In this section, "private | ||
school" has the meaning assigned by Section 39.033(d). | ||
(b) The University Interscholastic League shall provide | ||
private and parochial schools with equal opportunity to become | ||
members of the league for the purpose of providing their students | ||
with access to league activities. | ||
(c) This section does not exempt a private or parochial | ||
school or its students from satisfying each rule or eligibility | ||
requirement imposed by this subchapter or the league for | ||
participating in an activity or league district sponsored by the | ||
league. | ||
(d) A private or parochial school seeking to participate in | ||
a league activity or to become a member of a league district shall | ||
apply to the league on a signed form prescribed by the league. The | ||
school must certify its eligibility under this subchapter and | ||
league rules in the application and must attach proof of | ||
accreditation. The league may not impose eligibility requirements | ||
for private or parochial schools that exceed the requirements of | ||
this subchapter or league rules for public schools or require proof | ||
of eligibility that exceeds the proof required of public schools. | ||
On approval of an application, the league shall issue a certificate | ||
of approval to the applicant school. The application and | ||
certificate of approval are governmental records for purposes of | ||
Section 37.10, Penal Code. | ||
(e) The league shall determine the appropriate league | ||
district in which an eligible private or parochial school will | ||
participate using the same standard the league applies to public | ||
schools, provided that the private or parochial school may not be | ||
placed in a league district lower than the 1A level. | ||
(f) The league may adopt rules designed to discourage an | ||
eligible private or parochial school from recruiting any student to | ||
attend the school for the purpose of participating in a league | ||
activity. A rule adopted under this subsection may not be designed | ||
to discriminate against an eligible private or parochial school. | ||
(g) To be eligible under this section, a private or | ||
parochial school must: | ||
(1) be accredited by an accrediting organization | ||
recognized by the agency; | ||
(2) not have had its ability or eligibility to | ||
participate in an association similar to the league compromised, | ||
revoked, or suspended for violating the rules or codes of that | ||
association within the five-year period preceding the date of | ||
application to participate in the league; | ||
(3) offer a four-year high school curriculum; | ||
(4) offer interscholastic competition; and | ||
(5) require daily student attendance at a specific | ||
location. | ||
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, | ||
the league shall implement this section by providing private and | ||
parochial schools with equal opportunity to participate in: | ||
(1) league academic activities beginning with the | ||
2011-2012 school year; | ||
(2) league athletic activities at the 1A and 2A league | ||
district levels beginning with the spring semester of the 2011-2012 | ||
school year; | ||
(3) league athletic activities at the 3A league | ||
district level beginning with the 2012-2013 school year; | ||
(4) league athletic activities at the 4A league | ||
district level beginning with the 2013-2014 school year; and | ||
(5) league athletic activities at the 5A league | ||
district level beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. | ||
(i) Subsection (h) and this subsection expire September 1, | ||
2015. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |