78R1626 KKA-D

By:  Nixon                                                        H.B. No. 230



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to participation in University Interscholastic League 
activities.  
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 33.0831 to read as follows:
	Sec. 33.0831.  PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC 
LEAGUE ACTIVITIES. (a)  The University Interscholastic League may 
not deny a child eligible to attend school under Section 25.001(a) 
the opportunity to participate in an activity sponsored by the 
league on the ground that the child does not attend public school.  
The league may not deny a school the opportunity to participate in 
an activity sponsored by the league because the school is a private 
school. The league's rules must be designed to allow all children 
and schools in this state to participate in league activities in the 
same manner.
	(b)  A child is ineligible to participate in league 
activities for a period of 300 days after the date the child 
withdraws from public school if the child, at the time the child 
withdraws, has a grade average for the portion of the school year 
completed lower than the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100 in any 
academic class, other than an identified honors or advanced class.
	(c)  In this section, "private school" has the meaning 
assigned by Section 22.081.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 
school year.       
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.