By Armbrister                                          S.B. No. 266
         76R4471 BDH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to participation by private school students in University
 1-3     Interscholastic League sponsored activities.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 33.086 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 33.086.  PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC
 1-8     LEAGUE ACTIVITIES.  (a)  The University Interscholastic League may
 1-9     not deny a school or its students the opportunity to participate in
1-10     an activity sponsored by the league or the opportunity to become a
1-11     member of an appropriate league district because the school is a
1-12     private school.
1-13           (b)  This section does not exempt a private school or its
1-14     students from satisfying each eligibility requirement imposed by
1-15     this subchapter or the league for participating in an activity or
1-16     league district sponsored by the league.
1-17           (c)  A private school seeking to participate in a league
1-18     activity or to become a member of a league district shall make
1-19     application to the league on a signed form prescribed by the
1-20     league.  The private school shall certify its eligibility under
1-21     this subchapter and league rules in the application and shall
1-22     attach proof of accreditation.  The league may not impose
1-23     eligibility requirements for private schools that exceed the
1-24     requirements of this subchapter or league rules for public schools
 2-1     or require proof of eligibility that exceeds the proof required of
 2-2     public schools.  On approval of an application, the league shall
 2-3     issue a certificate of approval to the applicant school.  The
 2-4     application and certificate of approval are governmental records
 2-5     for purposes of Section 37.10, Penal Code.
 2-6           (d)  To be eligible under this section, a private school
 2-7     must:
 2-8                 (1)  be accredited by an accrediting organization
 2-9     recognized by the Texas Education Agency;
2-10                 (2)  offer a four-year high school curriculum;
2-11                 (3)  offer interscholastic competition; and
2-12                 (4)  require daily student attendance at a specific
2-13     location.
2-14           SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
2-15     school year.
2-16           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-21     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-22     passage, and it is so enacted.