| 1 | 1 | | 86R13016 JES-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1954 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the creation of an adaptive sports program by the |
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| 8 | 8 | | University Interscholastic League to provide students with |
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| 9 | 9 | | disabilities access to team sports. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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| 12 | 12 | | amended by adding Section 33.097 to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 33.097. ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH |
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| 14 | 14 | | DISABILITIES. (a) The University Interscholastic League shall |
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| 15 | 15 | | ensure students with disabilities have an opportunity to |
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| 16 | 16 | | participate in team athletic activities by establishing an adaptive |
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| 17 | 17 | | sports program. In establishing the adaptive sports program, the |
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| 18 | 18 | | league shall consider and incorporate as appropriate: |
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| 19 | 19 | | (1) federal guidance regarding providing access to |
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| 20 | 20 | | extracurricular athletics for students with disabilities; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (2) guidance available from nationally recognized |
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| 22 | 22 | | organizations that provide or promote adaptive athletics; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (3) information regarding adaptive sports programs |
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| 24 | 24 | | that have been successfully implemented in other states or by |
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| 25 | 25 | | nonprofit organizations; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | (4) input from school districts and the agency. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (b) In establishing the adaptive sports program, the |
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| 28 | 28 | | University Interscholastic League shall, to the greatest extent |
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| 29 | 29 | | possible, require: |
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| 30 | 30 | | (1) students who participate in the program to be |
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| 31 | 31 | | subject to the same rules and requirements as students who |
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| 32 | 32 | | participate in other athletic programs offered by the league, |
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| 33 | 33 | | including: |
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| 34 | 34 | | (A) grade and disciplinary requirements under |
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| 35 | 35 | | Section 33.081(c); and |
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| 36 | 36 | | (B) requirements related to student safety in |
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| 37 | 37 | | athletic activities under this chapter and Chapter 38; and |
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| 38 | 38 | | (2) team sports provided through the program to be |
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| 39 | 39 | | organized similarly to other athletic programs offered by the |
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| 40 | 40 | | league, including with respect to team practices, seasonal play, |
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| 41 | 41 | | and local and statewide competitions. |
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| 42 | 42 | | (c) In addition to using funds appropriated for the purpose, |
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| 43 | 43 | | the University Interscholastic League may seek and accept gifts, |
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| 44 | 44 | | grants, or donations of money from public and private sources for |
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| 45 | 45 | | the purpose of establishing or expanding the adaptive sports |
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| 46 | 46 | | program. |
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| 47 | 47 | | (d) The University Interscholastic League shall adopt rules |
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| 48 | 48 | | as necessary to establish, maintain, and expand the adaptive sports |
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| 49 | 49 | | program. The rules must: |
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| 50 | 50 | | (1) require that team sports offered through the |
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| 51 | 51 | | program be available to students at public middle schools, junior |
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| 52 | 52 | | high schools, and high schools in the state; |
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| 53 | 53 | | (2) establish eligibility requirements for |
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| 54 | 54 | | participation in each team sport offered through the program; and |
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| 55 | 55 | | (3) identify best practices for school districts to |
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| 56 | 56 | | incorporate adaptive sports. |
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| 57 | 57 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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