Requests that the Department of Education study the need for governmental oversight of procedures of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association
Impact
If pursued, HR195 could lead to significant changes in the governance of high school athletics in Louisiana. By recommending a study of oversight mechanisms, the Department of Education may explore frameworks that could hold the LHSAA accountable for its actions and decisions. This could potentially enhance the due process rights of students and schools, enabling them to appeal decisions that currently cannot be contested. Furthermore, requiring regular reports on oversight efforts could bring more transparency to the association's operations.
Summary
House Resolution 195 (HR195) urges and requests the Louisiana Department of Education to study the need for government oversight of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA). The bill highlights concerns regarding the lack of appeal processes available to students or schools in the event of decisions made by the LHSAA's executive committee, which many argue could infringe upon due process rights. This resolution emerges from the view that the state has a vested interest in ensuring that fair processes are followed in interscholastic athletics affecting over ninety thousand Louisiana students annually.
Sentiment
Sentiment surrounding HR195 appears to be supportive among advocates for student rights and due process. Representatives who introduced the resolution, such as Representatives Norton and Dixon, express a need for oversight to protect the rights of students and ensure fair practices. However, there may be opposing views from those within the LHSAA who could perceive this as an unnecessary encroachment on their authority, highlighting a potential conflict between state regulation and organizational autonomy.
Contention
A notable point of contention is the classification of the LHSAA as a private entity rather than a public one, as determined by the Louisiana Supreme Court. This ruling raises questions about the extent of state oversight and the nature of the LHSAA's responsibilities to its members. Concerns voiced during legislative sessions regarding the lack of an appeal process point to deeper implications of accountability and fairness within high school athletics. Thus, the resolution not only calls for a study but also serves as a catalyst for broader discussions about the balance between governance and independence in high school sports in Louisiana.
Requests the Department of Education to study the feasibility of establishing a Louisiana high school athletic agency within the department to administer high school intrastate interscholastic athletics.
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.
Requests that the La. High School Athletic Assoc. (LHSAA) take immediate action in reconsidering a ruling relative to student eligibility and that the LHSAA develop a procedure for the association to verify student eligibility to participate in interscholastic athletics at a given school prior to initial participation
Requests that the Bd. of Regents and the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education, with the Taylor Foundation, La. Office of Student Financial Assistance, public postsecondary education management boards, and certain others, study certain issues relative to TOPS
Requests the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs to study employment practices and professional licensing requirements to benefit veterans in the workforce
Creates a task force to study meaningful oversight of the professional healthcare licensing boards statutorily created within the Department of Health and Hospitals.