BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 203

By: Schwertner

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The University Interscholastic League (UIL) was created in 1910 by The University of Texas to provide interschool competitions in extracurricular academics, athletics, and music. Currently, there is no clear process for selecting host locations for UIL championship competitions. S.B. 203 seeks to provide a fair and transparent site selection process in which the UIL periodically issues a statewide request for proposals from public institutions of higher education and other appropriate entities. This standardized process will also help to equalize Texas communities' access to the economic opportunities associated with hosting such an event.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 203 amends the Education Code to prescribe a method for the University Interscholastic League (UIL) to select locations for statewide competitions in extracurricular activities sponsored or sanctioned by the UIL. The bill requires the UIL, for each applicable extracurricular activity, to periodically issue a statewide request for proposals from public institutions of higher education and other appropriate entities seeking to host the statewide competition during the year or years specified in the request. The bill requires a request for proposals to specify the factors that the UIL will consider in selecting the host and to require an entity to submit relevant information regarding the entity's capability to host the competition, including available facilities, accommodations, and personnel. The bill applies only to a statewide competition to be held on or after September 1, 2022.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.