83R11823 CAE-D

By: Price H.B. No. 3374

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to consideration of travel distances in assigning a school to a University Interscholastic League classification.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 33.089 to read as follows:

Sec. 33.089. TRAVEL IMPACT. (a) When assigning a school to a University Interscholastic League classification based on student enrollment, the University Interscholastic League must consider the distance of travel required for school teams to compete against the other schools in the classification and competition district.

(b) A school assigned to a University Interscholastic League classification may be reassigned to the next lower classification of schools if:

(1) the distance of one-way travel exceeds an average of 200 miles from the school to places of competition; and

(2) the student enrollment of the school does not exceed by more than 20 percent the student enrollment maximum for the next lower classification.

(c) The University Interscholastic League may assign a school to the lower classification under Subsection (b) only on the request of the school after the University Interscholastic League assignments are made public.

(d) To determine if a school qualifies under Subsection (b) for reclassification, the impact of travel is calculated by finding the sum of the one-way mileage from a school to each of the other schools in the school's competition district and dividing the sum by the number of other schools in the competition district.

SECTION 2. 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, 2013.