Bill Text: NJ S973 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires school districts to let nonpublic school students participate in district high school interscholastic athletics.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S973 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S973-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts to let nonpublic school student participate in district high school interscholastic athletics.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning school district interscholastic sports programs and supplementing chapter 11 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A board of education shall permit a student who attends a nonpublic school and meets the eligibility requirements for student athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to try out for, and participate in, a school-sponsored high school interscholastic athletics team or squad in the student's district of residence in accordance with the same criteria established for students enrolled in the district. Any controversy concerning a student's compliance with the eligibility requirements for student-athletes established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association shall be adjudicated by the association in accordance with its constitution and by-laws.
A student who attends a nonpublic school who wishes to compete on a school-sponsored high school interscholastic athletics team or squad in the resident district shall:
(1) provide proof of residence in the district; and
(2) meet the sports participation requirements established by the school district for students enrolled in the district, such as those regarding physical examinations, insurance, fees, age, academic, and other requirements. A nonpublic school student shall comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad.
b. A student who withdraws from a school district to enroll in a nonpublic school and who is ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the time of withdrawal from the school district due to failure to meet academic, behavioral, or eligibility standards, shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletic competition in accordance with the rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.
c. A board of education may charge a student who participates in a school-sponsored high school interscholastic athletics team or squad pursuant to this section, other than a student with financial hardship, a fee no greater than the actual cost per pupil of participating in the sport. In determining financial hardship the criteria shall be the same as the Statewide eligibility standards established by the State Board of Education for free and reduced price meals under the State school lunch program.
d. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a school district to provide transportation services or pay transportation costs associated with a nonpublic school student's participation in interscholastic athletics pursuant to the provisions of this section.
e. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a school district to change the schedules, procedures, or participation requirements of an interscholastic athletics team or squad to accommodate a nonpublic school student who wishes to participate in interscholastic athletics pursuant to the provisions of this section.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires school districts to allow students who attend nonpublic schools to try out for, and participate in, a high school interscholastic athletics team or squad in the student's district of residence. The nonpublic school student is required to provide proof of residence in the district, and to meet the sports participation requirements established by the district for students enrolled in the district such as physical examination, insurance, fees, age, and academic requirements. The nonpublic school student is also to comply with the same standards of behavior, responsibilities, and performance as all other members of the team or squad.
A board of education may charge a nonpublic school student, other than a student with financial hardship, a fee no greater than the actual cost per pupil of participating in the sport.
