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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to participation by private school students in University |
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Interscholastic League sponsored activities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 33.0831 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.0831. PARTICIPATION BY PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN |
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UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ACTIVITIES. (a) In this |
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section, "private school" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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39.033(d). |
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(b) The University Interscholastic League may not deny a |
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school or its students the opportunity to participate in an |
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activity sponsored by the league or become a member of an |
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appropriate league district or otherwise discriminate against a |
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private school or its students if the private school: |
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(1) is accredited by an accrediting organization |
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recognized by the agency; |
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(2) offers a four-year high school curriculum; |
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(3) offers interscholastic competition; |
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(4) requires daily student attendance at a specific |
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location; and |
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(5) sought membership in another interscholastic |
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organization but was denied membership in that organization. |
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(c) A private school seeking to participate in a University |
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Interscholastic League activity or to become a member of a league |
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district must apply to the league on a signed form prescribed by the |
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league. The private school must certify its eligibility under this |
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subchapter and league rules in the application and must attach |
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proof of accreditation. The league may not impose eligibility |
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requirements for private schools that exceed the requirements of |
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this subchapter or league rules for public schools or require proof |
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of eligibility that exceeds the proof required of public schools. |
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On approval of an application, the league shall issue a certificate |
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of approval to the applicant school. The application and |
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certificate of approval are governmental records for purposes of |
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Section 37.10, Penal Code. |
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(d) To determine the appropriate University Interscholastic |
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League district in which an eligible private school will |
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participate, the league must multiply the private school's |
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enrollment by two and place the private school in an appropriate |
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league district based on that enrollment figure, provided that the |
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private school is placed in a league district not lower than the 2A |
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level. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |