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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 105
BY REPRESENTATIVE THIBAUT
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to immediately
reconsider its ruling and reverse penalties relative to the eligibility of an athlete at
Livonia High School and to develop policies and procedures, in collaboration with
the state Department of Education and other appropriate stakeholders, that provide
for a student's eligibility to participate in interscholastic athletic activities at a given
school to be verified by the association prior to his initial participation.
WHEREAS, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association has ruled that a
freshman athlete at Livonia High School was ineligible to participate in interscholastic
athletics; and
WHEREAS, as a result of this ruling, Livonia High School has been ordered to
forfeit several baseball and football games; and
WHEREAS, it is widely believed by those in the community that the coaching staff
and administration at Livonia High School acted in good faith and exercised due diligence
in determining the student's eligibility; and
WHEREAS, Livonia High School self-reported this potential eligibility issue and
appealed the ruling, but the LHSAA rejected the appeal; and
WHEREAS, this ruling has had a negative impact on dozens of student athletes and
their families and on the community as a whole, and penalizing the school's athletic program
in such a drastic way is unwarranted; and
WHEREAS, according to its constitution, one of the purposes of the Louisiana High
School Athletic Association is to promote the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play in all
athletic contests; and
WHEREAS, the constitution of the LHSAA states that the association is vitally
interested in the welfare of every boy and girl participating in its athletic contests and that
it is for the protection of their interests that the association operates; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 105
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WHEREAS, time is of the essence in this matter as the baseball playoffs begin on
Wednesday, April 30, 2014, and immediate action by the LHSAA is necessary in order that
the Livonia High School baseball team may participate.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Louisiana High School Athletic
Association to immediately reconsider its ruling relative to the eligibility of an athlete at
Livonia High School and reverse the penalties imposed on the school's football and baseball
programs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana House of Representatives does
hereby further urge and request the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to develop
policies and procedures, in collaboration with the state Department of Education and other
appropriate stakeholders, that provide for student eligibility to participate in interscholastic
athletic activities at a given school to be determined by the association prior to his initial
participation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the executive director of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, who shall be
responsible for disseminating a copy to each member of the association's executive
committee, and to the principal of Livonia High School.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES