| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the creation of an inclusive sports program by the |
|
|
University Interscholastic League to provide students with |
|
|
intellectual disabilities access to team sports. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as Zariah's Law. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 33.097 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 33.097. INCLUSIVE SPORTS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH |
|
|
INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. (a) The University Interscholastic |
|
|
League shall ensure students with intellectual disabilities have an |
|
|
opportunity to participate in team athletic activities by |
|
|
establishing and maintaining an inclusive sports program. |
|
|
(b) The University Interscholastic League shall adopt rules |
|
|
as necessary to establish, maintain, and expand the inclusive |
|
|
sports program. The rules must: |
|
|
(1) accommodate inclusive team sports offered through |
|
|
the program at participating public middle schools, junior high |
|
|
schools, and high schools in the state; |
|
|
(2) establish eligibility requirements for |
|
|
participation in each inclusive team sport offered through the |
|
|
program; |
|
|
(3) identify best practices for school districts to |
|
|
incorporate inclusive sports; and |
|
|
(4) require the program to incorporate activities that |
|
|
promote: |
|
|
(A) bullying prevention; |
|
|
(B) moral intelligence; |
|
|
(C) character development; |
|
|
(D) leadership development; |
|
|
(E) physical fitness; and |
|
|
(F) positive school culture. |
|
|
(c) In adopting the rules under Subsection (b), the |
|
|
University Interscholastic League shall consider and incorporate |
|
|
as appropriate: |
|
|
(1) federal guidance regarding providing access to |
|
|
extracurricular athletics for students with intellectual |
|
|
disabilities; |
|
|
(2) guidance available from nationally recognized |
|
|
organizations that promote inclusion and acceptance among students |
|
|
with and without intellectual disabilities; |
|
|
(3) information regarding inclusive sports programs |
|
|
that have been successfully implemented in this state, in other |
|
|
states, and by nonprofit organizations; |
|
|
(4) input from school districts and the agency; and |
|
|
(5) guidance provided by impacted stakeholders, |
|
|
including by parents of or persons standing in parental relation to |
|
|
students with intellectual disabilities. |
|
|
(d) The University Interscholastic League may appoint a |
|
|
person to provide guidance on behalf of impacted stakeholders for |
|
|
purposes of Subsection (c)(5). |
|
|
(e) In maintaining the inclusive sports program, the |
|
|
University Interscholastic League shall, to the greatest extent |
|
|
possible, require: |
|
|
(1) students who participate in the inclusive sports |
|
|
program to be subject to the same rules and requirements as students |
|
|
who participate in other athletic programs offered by the league, |
|
|
including: |
|
|
(A) grade and disciplinary requirements under |
|
|
Section 33.081(c); and |
|
|
(B) requirements related to student safety in |
|
|
athletic activities under this chapter and Chapter 38; and |
|
|
(2) team sports provided through the inclusive sports |
|
|
program to be organized similarly to other athletic programs |
|
|
offered by the league, including with respect to team practices, |
|
|
seasonal play, and local and statewide competitions. |
|
|
(f) In addition to using funds available or appropriated for |
|
|
the purpose, the University Interscholastic League or a partner |
|
|
affiliated with the league may seek and accept gifts, grants, or |
|
|
donations of money from public and private sources for the purpose |
|
|
of establishing or expanding the inclusive sports program. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |