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