SRC-AMY S.B. 700 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 700
78R5472 BDH-FBy: Ogden
Education
3/31/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) can deny any
private school the right to compete in UIL solely because it is a private
school.  As proposed, S.B. 700 prohibits UIL from preventing a school from
competing because it is a private school, and requires UIL to establish
procedures and eligibility criteria by which private schools can
participate in a UIL activity or become a member of a UIL district.  This
bill also establishes size requirements for private schools and authorizes
UIL to adopt rules that discourage a private school from recruiting
students to the school to participate in UIL activities. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the University
Interscholastic League in SECTION 1 (Section 33.087, Education Code) of
this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 33D, Education Code, by adding Section 33.087,
as follows: 

Sec. 33.087.  PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE
ACTIVITIES.  (a) Prohibits the University Interscholastic League (UIL)
from discriminating in any way against a private school or its students. 

(b) Provides that this section does not exempt a private school or its
students from satisfying the eligibility requirements for participating in
an activity or UIL district sponsored by UIL. 

(c) Requires a private school to use a UIL form and prove eligibility with
proof of accreditation in applying to participate in a UIL activity or
become a member of a UIL district.  Prohibits UIL from imposing
eligibility requirements or requiring proof of accreditation from private
schools that exceed  the requirements of this subchapter. Requires UIL to
issue a certificate of approval upon approval of an application. Provides
that both the application and certificate are governmental records for the
purposes of Section 37.10, Penal Code (Tampering with a Governmental
Record). 

(d) Requires UIL to multiply the enrollment of an eligible single-sex
private school by two to determine the appropriate district league in
which the school will participate, provided it is not placed in a league
lower than the 3A level. 

(e) Authorizes UIL to adopt rules to discourage a private school from
recruiting students to the school to participate in UIL activities, but
prohibits a rule from being designed to discriminate against an eligible
school. 

(f) Sets forth eligibility criteria.

(g) Defines "private school" according to Section 39.033(d), Education
Code (Voluntary Assessment of Private School Students). 

 SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004
school year. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.