Bill Text: TX SB776 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of an inclusive sports program by the University Interscholastic League to provide students with intellectual disabilities access to team sports.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-14 - Effective on 9/1/21 [SB776 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB776-Enrolled.html
| S.B. No. 776 | ||
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| relating to the creation of an inclusive sports program by the | ||
| University Interscholastic League to provide students with | ||
| intellectual disabilities access to team sports. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as Zariah's Law. | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 33.097 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 33.097. INCLUSIVE SPORTS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH | ||
| INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. (a) The University Interscholastic | ||
| League shall ensure students with intellectual disabilities have an | ||
| opportunity to participate in team athletic activities by | ||
| establishing and maintaining an inclusive sports program. | ||
| (b) The University Interscholastic League shall adopt rules | ||
| as necessary to establish, maintain, and expand the inclusive | ||
| sports program. The rules must: | ||
| (1) accommodate inclusive team sports offered through | ||
| the program at participating public middle schools, junior high | ||
| schools, and high schools in the state; | ||
| (2) establish eligibility requirements for | ||
| participation in each inclusive team sport offered through the | ||
| program; | ||
| (3) identify best practices for school districts to | ||
| incorporate inclusive sports; and | ||
| (4) require the program to incorporate activities that | ||
| promote: | ||
| (A) bullying prevention; | ||
| (B) moral intelligence; | ||
| (C) character development; | ||
| (D) leadership development; | ||
| (E) physical fitness; and | ||
| (F) positive school culture. | ||
| (c) In adopting the rules under Subsection (b), the | ||
| University Interscholastic League shall consider and incorporate | ||
| as appropriate: | ||
| (1) federal guidance regarding providing access to | ||
| extracurricular athletics for students with intellectual | ||
| disabilities; | ||
| (2) guidance available from nationally recognized | ||
| organizations that promote inclusion and acceptance among students | ||
| with and without intellectual disabilities; | ||
| (3) information regarding inclusive sports programs | ||
| that have been successfully implemented in this state, in other | ||
| states, and by nonprofit organizations; | ||
| (4) input from school districts and the agency; and | ||
| (5) guidance provided by impacted stakeholders, | ||
| including by parents of or persons standing in parental relation to | ||
| students with intellectual disabilities. | ||
| (d) The University Interscholastic League may appoint a | ||
| person to provide guidance on behalf of impacted stakeholders for | ||
| purposes of Subsection (c)(5). | ||
| (e) In maintaining the inclusive sports program, the | ||
| University Interscholastic League shall, to the greatest extent | ||
| possible, require: | ||
| (1) students who participate in the inclusive sports | ||
| program to be subject to the same rules and requirements as students | ||
| who participate in other athletic programs offered by the league, | ||
| including: | ||
| (A) grade and disciplinary requirements under | ||
| Section 33.081(c); and | ||
| (B) requirements related to student safety in | ||
| athletic activities under this chapter and Chapter 38; and | ||
| (2) team sports provided through the inclusive sports | ||
| program to be organized similarly to other athletic programs | ||
| offered by the league, including with respect to team practices, | ||
| seasonal play, and local and statewide competitions. | ||
| (f) In addition to using funds available or appropriated for | ||
| the purpose, the University Interscholastic League or a partner | ||
| affiliated with the league may seek and accept gifts, grants, or | ||
| donations of money from public and private sources for the purpose | ||
| of establishing or expanding the inclusive sports program. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 776 passed the Senate on | ||
| April 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 776 passed the House on | ||
| May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 2, one present | ||
| not voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| Approved: | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
