HSB 605 (LSB 5281YC (2) 90)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON WHEELER)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to extracurricular interscholastic athletic activities and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.165, subsection 1, Code 2024, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  c.  If the board requires that a coach complete training on concussions and brain injuries as provided in section 280.13C as a condition of renewal of a coaching authorization, the board shall require completion of such training no more frequently than once every two years.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  280.13D  Requirements for extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions.
   1.  For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
   a.  “Department” means the department of education.
   b.  “Organization” means the same as defined in section 280.13.
   2.  As a condition of registration with the department under section 280.13, an organization that sponsors extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions for male students shall comply with all of the following:
   a.  The organization shall not use any factor relating to socioeconomic status when establishing or revising divisions, classifications, or conferences for any sport.
   b.  The organization shall accept cash as a form of payment for entry into any extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition sponsored by the organization.
   c.  The organization shall not require that tickets for an extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition that is a playoff be purchased online or through other electronic means.
   d.  The organization shall schedule athletic seasons for the following sports as follows:
   (1)  The athletic season for baseball shall be governed by all of the following:
   (a)  The season shall begin on the same date as the athletic season for softball, as established by an organization that sponsors extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions for female students.
   (b)  The season shall last at least seven weeks before any extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition that is a playoff occurs.
   (c)  The season must be permitted to include up to forty games per team, as determined by the team.
   (2)  The athletic season for soccer shall conclude before Memorial Day.
   e.  Before the organization implements a change to the starting or ending date of more than thirty days for the athletic seasons of baseball, soccer, golf, tennis, or track and field, the organization shall provide an electronic survey to each head coach and assistant coach for each athletic team that would be affected by the change. The survey shall include a question on whether or not the coach approves of the proposed change, which shall be limited to the options of providing an affirmative or negative response. The survey may include additional questions at the discretion of the organization. Unless at least sixty percent of the coaches respond to the survey, and sixty percent of the respondents provide an affirmative answer to the question required by this paragraph, the change shall not be implemented. The organization shall provide all responses to the survey to the department, which shall verify compliance with this paragraph.
   3.  The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
    Sec. 3.  APPLICABILITY.  Section 280.13D, as enacted by this Act, applies to athletic seasons beginning on or after the effective date of this Act.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to extracurricular interscholastic athletic activities.
   The bill provides that if the board of educational examiners requires that a coach complete training on concussions and brain injuries as a condition of renewal of a coaching authorization, the board shall require completion of such training no more frequently than once every two years.
   The bill establishes requirements for an organization that sponsors extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions for male students (“organization”) as a condition of registration with the department of education.
   The bill prohibits the organization from using any factor relating to socioeconomic status when establishing or revising divisions, classifications, or conferences for any sport.
   The bill requires the organization to accept cash as a form of payment for entry into any extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition sponsored by the organization. The bill prohibits an organization from requiring that tickets for an extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition that is a playoff be purchased online or through other electronic means.
   The bill provides requirements for scheduling athletic seasons for baseball and soccer.
   The bill establishes procedures for the organization to survey head coaches and assistant coaches before implementing a change to the starting or ending date of more than 30 days for the athletic seasons of baseball, soccer, golf, tennis, or track and field. The change shall only be implemented if at least 60 percent of the coaches respond to the survey, and 60 percent of the respondents approve of the change. The organization shall provide all responses to the survey to the department of education, which shall verify compliance with the survey requirements.
   The provisions of the bill other than those relating to training on concussions and brain injuries apply to athletic seasons beginning on or after the effective date of the bill.