BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 370

By: Hochberg

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

University Interscholastic League eligibility rules prevent a school from unfairly recruiting a star student-athlete from a rival program or arranging a transfer for a student-athlete who is unable to earn a spot on the varsity team at one school for the specific purpose of playing that sport on another team. Consequently, if a student wishes to transfer to a school to participate in a sport not offered at the student's original school, the student would be ineligible for at least one year. A student can also be ruled ineligible for non-sporting league activities, such as debate or orchestra, if the student transfers from the student's original school to a school that offers the non-sporting activity.

C.S.H.B. 370 allows a transferring student, with certain exceptions, to participate immediately in an extracurricular activity program if the student's original school does not offer the extracurricular activity in which the student wishes to participate.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the University Interscholastic League in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 370 amends the Education Code to make a student who transfers to a public school or moves into the attendance zone of a public school for the purpose of participating in an extracurricular activity or a University Interscholastic League competition offered at that school eligible to participate in the activity or competition if the activity or competition is not offered at the school from which the student transferred or moved and the student is otherwise eligible to participate in the activity or competition. The bill authorizes the league to adopt rules making a student who, two or more times during a school year, transfers to a public school or moves into the attendance zone of a public school for the purpose of participating in a league competition offered at that school ineligible to participate in the competition.

C.S.H.B. 370 makes its provisions applicable beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 370 contains a provision not included in the original authorizing the University Interscholastic League to adopt rules making a student who, two or more times during a school year, transfers to a public school or moves into the attendance zone of a public school for the purpose of participating in a league competition offered at that school ineligible to participate in the competition.