Cortez (SB 182) Act No. 294
Prior law (R.S. 17:176(A)) required each local school superintendent, as he deems
appropriate, to review all cocurricular and extracurricular activities and programs with the
middle, junior high, and high school principals in the school system to see if they are meeting
student needs and are not eroding the academic standards of the schools.
New law retains prior law and specifically includes interscholastic athletics in the review
process. Makes technical corrections in prior law.
Prior law (R.S. 17:176(E)) provided that despite any policy, rule, or regulation by the
governing authority of a public elementary or secondary school to the contrary, no student
otherwise eligible to participate in an extracurricular activity shall be limited in the number
of such activities in which the student may participate during a school year.
New law retains prior law and specifies that these provisions also apply to interscholastic
athletics. Makes technical corrections in prior law.
Prior law (R.S. 17:176(F)) provides that notwithstanding any Louisiana High School Athletic
Association (LHSAA) policy, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no student otherwise eligible
to participate in extracurricular interscholastic activity shall be determined ineligible to
participate during the student's first year of high school because the student attends a state-
approved nonpublic high school located outside of the attendance zone recognized by
LHSAA if:
(1)The high school attended by the student is operated by the same organization or
federation of nonpublic schools that operated the school attended by the student the
previous school year.
(2)There is no state-approved nonpublic high school available for the student to attend
within the LHSAA recognized zone operated by the same organization or federation
of nonpublic schools.
Prior law (R.S. 17:176(G)) defined "family", "immediate family", and "extended family", for
the purposes of LHSAA rules.
Prior law (R.S. 17:236.3) provided that a student in a BESE-approved home study program
is eligible to participate in interscholastic athletic events at a LHSAA member high school
in accordance with the conditions established in prior law for such participation.
New law repeals prior law as these provisions were declared unconstitutional by the La.
Supreme Court. (Louisiana High School Athletic Association, Inc., vs. State, 2012-CA-1471
(La. 01/29/13)).
Prior law (R.S. 17:176(H)) provided that notwithstanding any LHSAA policy, rule, or
regulation to the contrary, no student otherwise academically eligible to participate in
extracurricular interscholastic activity shall be determined ineligible if the student's transfer
was due to a move necessitated by military orders issued to the student's parent or legal
guardian.
New law repeals prior law.
Prior law (R.S. 17:176(I)) provided that notwithstanding any policy, rule, or regulation
adopted by any legal entity that administers or regulates high school extracurricular
interscholastic athletics in the state to the contrary, no student otherwise eligible to
participate in extracurricular interscholastic activity shall be prohibited from participating
in, or training for, any soccer camp or soccer showcase opportunity, provided that such
participation complies with applicable laws, policies, guidelines, rules and regulations with
regard to college recruitment.
New law repeals prior law.
Effective August 1, 2013. (Amends R.S. 17:176(A)(intro para) and (E); repeals R.S. 17:176(F), (G), (H), and (I) and
236.3)