Bill Text: TX SB573 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to equal opportunity for access by private and parochial school students to certain University Interscholastic League sponsored activities.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-20 - Not again placed on intent calendar [SB573 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-SB573-Comm_Sub.html
| By: Patrick | S.B. No. 573 | |
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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 33.0832 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 33.0832. 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 2012-2013 | ||
| school year to continue participating in league activities in | ||
| subsequent school years in a manner comparable to the school's | ||
| participation during the 2012-2013 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 | ||
| 2013-2014 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 2013-2014 school year; | ||
| (3) league athletic activities, other than football or | ||
| basketball, at the 3A league district level beginning with the | ||
| 2014-2015 school year; | ||
| (4) league athletic activities, other than football or | ||
| basketball, at the 4A league district level beginning with the | ||
| 2015-2016 school year; and | ||
| (5) league athletic activities, other than football or | ||
| basketball, at the 5A league district level beginning with the | ||
| 2016-2017 school year. | ||
| (j) Subsection (i) and this subsection expire September 1, | ||
| 2017. | ||
| 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, 2013. | ||
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