HF 189 (LSB 1557HV (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 189

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 1)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the eligibility of students enrolled in nonpublic schools to compete in extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions provided by public schools, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  280.13D  Participation in extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions provided by public schools.
   1.  a.  The board of directors of a school district shall allow a student who resides within the school district and who is enrolled in a nonpublic school to participate immediately in any extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition that is provided by the school district, but that is not provided by the nonpublic school, pursuant to the terms of an agreement between the board of directors of the school district and the authorities in charge of the nonpublic school that provides for the eligibility of the student.
   b.  The board of directors of a school district shall allow a student who resides within a contiguous school district and who is enrolled in a nonpublic school to participate immediately in any extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition that is provided by the school district, but that is not provided by the nonpublic school or the student’s school district of residence, pursuant to the terms of an agreement between the board of directors of the school district and the authorities in charge of the nonpublic school that provides for the eligibility of the student.
   c.  If the board of directors of a school district has established a fee for the cost of a student’s participation in an extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition, a student who is enrolled in a nonpublic school and is participating in a contest or competition at a public school pursuant to paragraph “a” or “b”, or the student’s parent or guardian, shall be responsible for the payment of such fee. The amount of such fee shall not exceed the amount of the fee the board of directors of the school district has established for students who are enrolled in the school district.
   2.  An organization, as defined in section 280.13, shall not take into account the number of students who participate in an extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition provided by a school district pursuant to this section when determining the classification of a public school.
   3.  A student who participates in an extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition pursuant to this section shall be deemed to satisfy the residence requirements for purposes of section 256.46.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
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 the eligibility of students enrolled in nonpublic schools to compete in extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions provided by public schools.
   The bill requires school districts to allow a student who resides within the school district and who is enrolled in a nonpublic school to participate immediately in any extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition provided by the school district, but that is not provided by the nonpublic school, pursuant to the terms of an agreement between the school district and the nonpublic school that provides for the eligibility of the student. The bill also requires school districts to allow a student who resides within a contiguous school district and who is enrolled in a nonpublic school to participate immediately in any extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition provided by the school district, but that is not provided by the nonpublic school or the student’s school district of residence, pursuant to the terms of an agreement between the school district and the nonpublic school that provides for the eligibility of the student.
   The bill provides that, if a school district has established a fee for the cost of a student’s participation in an extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition, a student enrolled in a nonpublic school who is participating in the contest or competition pursuant to the bill’s provisions, or the student’s parent or guardian, shall be responsible for the payment of such fee. School districts are prohibited from establishing a fee that exceeds the amount of the fee established for students who are enrolled in the school district.
   The bill establishes that a student who participates in an extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition pursuant to these provisions shall be deemed to satisfy the residence requirements of Code section 256.46 (rules for participation in extracurricular activities by certain children).
   The bill prohibits an organization, as defined in Code section 280.13 (requirements for interscholastic athletic contests and competitions), from taking into account the number of students who participate in an extracurricular interscholastic athletic contest or competition pursuant to these provisions when determining the classification of a public school.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.