SF 2392 (LSB 6036SV (1) 91)

SENATE FILE 2392

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 2212)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to interscholastic athletic scrimmages between schools and nonaccredited home school sports organizations, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  280.37  Nonaccredited home school sports organization scrimmages.
   1.  For purposes of this section:
   a.  “Nonaccredited home school sports organization” means a team, club, cooperative, or group organized primarily for students receiving competent private instruction or independent private instruction under chapter 299A, or for students receiving instruction in nonaccredited nonpublic settings that are not a member or associate member of an organization.
   b.  “Organization” means the same as defined in section 280.13.
   c.  “School” means a public school district or accredited nonpublic school that is a member or associate member of an organization.
   d.  “Scrimmage” means a noncompetitive, practice-oriented interscholastic event between teams that simulates game conditions solely for the purpose of evaluating and developing team strategies, individual skills, and conditioning.
   2.  Notwithstanding any rule, bylaw, policy, or regulation of an organization, a school may participate in a scrimmage against a nonaccredited home school sports organization in any sport offered by the school.
   3.  a.  A scrimmage under this section requires a prior agreement in writing between the school district superintendent or designee of the accredited nonpublic school and a duly authorized representative of the nonaccredited home school sports organization. The agreement shall be retained by the school and nonaccredited home school sports organization for one year following the scrimmage. The agreement shall include all of the following:
   (1)  The date, time, location, duration, and format of the scrimmage.
   (2)  Safety protocols, including concussion management and emergency procedures.
   (3)  Any other conditions determined to be necessary by either party.
   b.  Each school and nonaccredited home school sports organization shall ensure appropriate liability coverage and assume responsibility for its own participants in a scrimmage under this section. A school or nonaccredited home school sports organization shall not be liable for injuries resulting from a scrimmage except as provided by law or in the written agreement.
   4.  Students participating in a scrimmage on behalf of a nonaccredited home school sports organization under this section shall not be subject to the eligibility rules of an organization.
   5.  A scrimmage under this section shall:
   a.  Not count as a regular season contest or affect win-loss records, standings, rankings, or postseason eligibility.
   b.  Not involve official scorekeeping for public announcement or record purposes.
   c.  Not charge admission to spectators.
   d.  Not use public address announcements for play-by-play commentary.
   e.  Be limited in duration and intensity consistent with preseason or in-season practice rules of the sport, as established by the national federation of state high school associations or another applicable association.
   f.  Occur at a facility owned or controlled by one of the teams or at a neutral facility agreed upon by the teams.
   g.  Officials shall not be compensated unless agreed upon by the teams solely for training or instructional purposes.
   h.  Be voluntary for all participants.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect July 1, 2027.
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 interscholastic athletic scrimmages between schools and nonaccredited home school sports organizations.
   The bill allows public schools and accredited nonpublic schools that are members or associate members of an organization as defined in Code section 280.13 to participate in interscholastic athletic scrimmages with nonaccredited home school sports organizations.
   The bill defines “nonaccredited home school sports organization” as team, club, cooperative, or group organized primarily for students receiving competent private instruction or independent private instruction under Code chapter 299A, or for students receiving instruction in nonaccredited, nonpublic settings that are not a member or associate member of an organization as defined in Code section 280.13. Under Code section 280.13, an organization is a corporation, association, or organization that has as one of its primary purposes the sponsoring or administration of extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions. The bill defines “scrimmage” as a noncompetitive, practice-oriented interscholastic event between teams that simulates game conditions solely for the purpose of evaluating and developing team strategies, individual skills, and conditioning.
   The bill requires a written agreement between the school and nonaccredited home school sports organization be executed prior to the scrimmage. The agreement must contain the date, time, location, duration, and format of the scrimmage, safety protocols, and other conditions deemed necessary by either party. The agreement must be retained by each party for one year following the scrimmage.
   The bill provides that each school and nonaccredited home school sports organization shall ensure appropriate liability coverage and assume responsibility for its own participants in a scrimmage. Students participating in a scrimmage on behalf of a nonaccredited home school sports organization are not subject to the eligibility rules of an organization.
   Lastly, the bill requires that scrimmages do not count toward regular season records, standings, rankings, or postseason eligibility, must be voluntary, limited in duration and intensity, occur at certain facilities, and may not involve official scorekeeping, charging admission, play-by-play announcements, or pay for officials.
   The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.