BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4477

By: Landgraf

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, University Interscholastic League (UIL) playoff games may not be scheduled Monday through Thursday during a school week in which statewide standardized and end-of-course tests are administered. By only allowing playoff games to be scheduled on Fridays, several issues have come up: conflicting school schedules, parent-student travel, and limited time to fit several games in during the season. H.B. 4477 seeks to repeal the law that prohibits scheduling UIL competitions on certain days in order to allow for playoff games to be scheduled any day Monday through Friday.

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

H.B. 4477 repeals Section 33.0812, Education Code, which requires the following:

· the State Board of Education by rule to prohibit participation in a University Interscholastic League (UIL) area, regional, or state competition on Monday through Thursday of the week in which the primary administration of statewide standardized tests or end-of-course tests occurs, or Monday through the day on which the primary administration of applicable tests is completed if before Thursday; and

· the commissioner of education to adopt rules to provide UIL with a periodic calendar of dates reserved for testing for planning purposes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.