Bill Text: TX SB1447 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to equal opportunity for access by private and parochial school students to certain University Interscholastic League sponsored activities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-18 - Referred to Education [SB1447 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB1447-Introduced.html
84R2831 CAE-F | ||
By: Campbell | S.B. No. 1447 |
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relating to equal opportunity for access by private and parochial | ||
school students to certain 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 33.0833 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 33.0833. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ACCESS TO UNIVERSITY | ||
INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ACTIVITIES OTHER THAN FOOTBALL OR | ||
BASKETBALL. (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 other than football or basketball. | ||
(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 shall adopt rules that prohibit 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 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) Nothing in this section affects the right of a private | ||
school participating in league activities during the 2014-2015 | ||
school year to continue participating in league activities in | ||
subsequent school years in a manner comparable to the school's | ||
participation during the 2014-2015 school year. | ||
(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, | ||
but subject to Subsection (h), 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 | ||
2015-2016 school year; | ||
(2) league athletic activities, other than football or | ||
basketball, at the 1A and 2A league district levels beginning with | ||
the spring semester of the 2015-2016 school year; | ||
(3) league athletic activities, other than football or | ||
basketball, at the 3A league district level beginning with the | ||
2016-2017 school year; | ||
(4) league athletic activities, other than football or | ||
basketball, at the 4A league district level beginning with the | ||
2017-2018 school year; and | ||
(5) league athletic activities, other than football or | ||
basketball, at the 5A and 6A league district levels beginning with | ||
the 2018-2019 school year. | ||
(j) Subsection (i) and this subsection expire September 1, | ||
2019. | ||
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, 2015. |