SLS 12RS-2799 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2012
SENATE STUDY REQUEST NO. 1
BY SENATORS WARD AND MORRELL
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT. Requests the Senate Committee on Education to study the
feasibility of having legislative oversight over certain disciplinary decisions made by the
Louisiana High School Athletic Association.
A STUDY REQUEST1
To request the Senate Committee on Education to study the feasibility of having legislative2
oversight over certain disciplinary decisions made by the Louisiana High School3
Athletic Association.4
WHEREAS, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) was created5
to promote, regulate, and direct the interscholastic athletic activities of Louisiana public and6
nonpublic high schools that are members of the association; and7
WHEREAS, the constitution adopted by the LHSAA states that its purposes include8
promoting the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play in all athletic contests; and9
WHEREAS, the LHSAA constitution further states that the association is vitally10
interested in the welfare of every boy and girl participating in its athletic contests and that11
it is for the protection of their interests that the association operates; and12
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2012, an altercation occurred between members of two13
high school baseball teams which resulted in a decision by the executive director and the14
executive committee of the LHSAA to ban both teams from the postseason playoffs; and15
WHEREAS, certain individuals affiliated with both teams, including the head16
coaches, have been reprimanded and are prohibited from being present or in the vicinity of17
any tournament or sporting event where his team is participating; and18 SSR NO. 1
SLS 12RS-2799 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, in order to provide a more equitable system of checks and balances1
regarding student athletes and the sporting events in which they participate, it is imperative2
that a study be conducted to determine the necessity for legislative oversight in order to3
ensure that disciplinary decisions and actions taken by the executive director and the4
executive committee of the LHSAA are fair and reasonable and consistent with its5
constitution, rules, and by-laws.6
THEREFORE, the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana requests that the Senate7
Committee on Education study the feasibility of having legislative oversight over8
disciplinary decisions and actions taken by the LHSAA and to make a written report of its9
findings to the Senate not later than thirty days prior to the convening of the 2013 Regular10
Session of the Legislature.11
A copy of this Study Request shall be transmitted to the executive director of the12
Louisiana High School Athletic Association.13
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
Ward SSR No. 1
Requests the Senate Committee on Education to study the feasibility of having legislative
oversight over disciplinary decisions made by the Louisiana High School Athletic
Association and to make a written report of its findings to the Senate not later than 30 days
prior to the convening of the 2013 R.S.