| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the creation of an adaptive sports program by the |
|
|
University Interscholastic League to provide students with |
|
|
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. ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH |
|
|
DISABILITIES. (a) The University Interscholastic League shall |
|
|
ensure students with disabilities have an opportunity to |
|
|
participate in team athletic activities by establishing an adaptive |
|
|
sports program. In establishing the adaptive sports program, the |
|
|
league shall consider and incorporate as appropriate: |
|
|
(1) federal guidance regarding providing access to |
|
|
extracurricular athletics for students with disabilities; |
|
|
(2) guidance available from nationally recognized |
|
|
organizations that provide or promote adaptive athletics; |
|
|
(3) information regarding adaptive sports programs |
|
|
that have been successfully implemented in other states or by |
|
|
nonprofit organizations; and |
|
|
(4) input from school districts and the agency. |
|
|
(b) In establishing the adaptive sports program, the |
|
|
University Interscholastic League shall, to the greatest extent |
|
|
possible, require: |
|
|
(1) students who participate in the 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 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. |
|
|
(c) In addition to using funds appropriated for the purpose, |
|
|
the University Interscholastic League may seek and accept gifts, |
|
|
grants, or donations of money from public and private sources for |
|
|
the purpose of establishing or expanding the adaptive sports |
|
|
program. |
|
|
(d) The University Interscholastic League shall adopt rules |
|
|
as necessary to establish, maintain, and expand the adaptive sports |
|
|
program. The rules must: |
|
|
(1) require that team sports offered through the |
|
|
program be available to students at public middle schools, junior |
|
|
high schools, and high schools in the state; |
|
|
(2) establish eligibility requirements for |
|
|
participation in each team sport offered through the program; and |
|
|
(3) identify best practices for school districts to |
|
|
incorporate adaptive sports. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |