TX
Texas House Bill HB2193

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2193 Compare Versions

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1-87R21072 JES-D
2- By: Dominguez, Martinez, Lucio III, Guillen, H.B. No. 2193
3- et al.
4- Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2193:
5- By: Dutton C.S.H.B. No. 2193
1+87R6909 JES-D
2+ By: Dominguez H.B. No. 2193
63
74
85 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
96 AN ACT
10- relating to the creation of an inclusive sports program by the
7+ relating to the creation of an adaptive sports program by the
118 University Interscholastic League to provide students with
129 disabilities access to team sports.
1310 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1411 SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as Zariah's Law.
1512 SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
1613 amended by adding Section 33.097 to read as follows:
17- Sec. 33.097. INCLUSIVE SPORTS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH
14+ Sec. 33.097. ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH
1815 DISABILITIES. (a) The University Interscholastic League shall
1916 ensure students with disabilities have an opportunity to
20- participate in team athletic activities by establishing and
21- maintaining an inclusive sports program.
22- (b) The University Interscholastic League shall adopt rules
23- as necessary to establish, maintain, and expand the inclusive
24- sports program. The rules must:
25- (1) accommodate inclusive team sports offered through
26- the program at participating public middle schools, junior high
27- schools, and high schools in the state;
28- (2) establish eligibility requirements for
29- participation in each inclusive team sport offered through the
30- program;
31- (3) identify best practices for school districts to
32- incorporate inclusive sports; and
33- (4) require the program to incorporate activities that
34- promote:
35- (A) bullying prevention;
36- (B) moral intelligence;
37- (C) character development;
38- (D) leadership development;
39- (E) physical fitness; and
40- (F) positive school culture.
41- (c) In adopting the rules under Subsection (b), the
42- University Interscholastic League shall consider and incorporate
43- as appropriate:
17+ participate in team athletic activities by establishing an adaptive
18+ sports program. In establishing the adaptive sports program, the
19+ league shall consider and incorporate as appropriate:
4420 (1) federal guidance regarding providing access to
4521 extracurricular athletics for students with disabilities;
4622 (2) guidance available from nationally recognized
47- organizations that promote inclusion and acceptance among students
48- with and without disabilities;
49- (3) information regarding inclusive sports programs
50- that have been successfully implemented in this state, in other
51- states, and by nonprofit organizations;
52- (4) input from school districts and the agency; and
53- (5) guidance provided by impacted stakeholders,
54- including by parents of or persons standing in parental relation to
55- students with disabilities.
56- (d) The University Interscholastic League may appoint a
57- person to provide guidance on behalf of impacted stakeholders for
58- purposes of Subsection (c)(5).
59- (e) In maintaining the inclusive sports program, the
23+ organizations that provide or promote adaptive athletics;
24+ (3) information regarding adaptive sports programs
25+ that have been successfully implemented in other states or by
26+ nonprofit organizations; and
27+ (4) input from school districts and the agency.
28+ (b) In establishing the adaptive sports program, the
6029 University Interscholastic League shall, to the greatest extent
6130 possible, require:
62- (1) students who participate in the inclusive sports
63- program to be subject to the same rules and requirements as students
64- who participate in other athletic programs offered by the league,
31+ (1) students who participate in the program to be
32+ subject to the same rules and requirements as students who
33+ participate in other athletic programs offered by the league,
6534 including:
6635 (A) grade and disciplinary requirements under
6736 Section 33.081(c); and
6837 (B) requirements related to student safety in
6938 athletic activities under this chapter and Chapter 38; and
70- (2) team sports provided through the inclusive sports
71- program to be organized similarly to other athletic programs
72- offered by the league, including with respect to team practices,
73- seasonal play, and local and statewide competitions.
74- (f) In addition to using funds available or appropriated for
75- the purpose, the University Interscholastic League or a partner
76- affiliated with the league may seek and accept gifts, grants, or
77- donations of money from public and private sources for the purpose
78- of establishing or expanding the inclusive sports program.
39+ (2) team sports provided through the program to be
40+ organized similarly to other athletic programs offered by the
41+ league, including with respect to team practices, seasonal play,
42+ and local and statewide competitions.
43+ (c) In addition to using funds appropriated for the purpose,
44+ the University Interscholastic League may seek and accept gifts,
45+ grants, or donations of money from public and private sources for
46+ the purpose of establishing or expanding the adaptive sports
47+ program.
48+ (d) The University Interscholastic League shall adopt rules
49+ as necessary to establish, maintain, and expand the adaptive sports
50+ program. The rules must:
51+ (1) require that team sports offered through the
52+ program be available to students at public middle schools, junior
53+ high schools, and high schools in the state;
54+ (2) establish eligibility requirements for
55+ participation in each team sport offered through the program; and
56+ (3) identify best practices for school districts to
57+ incorporate adaptive sports.
7958 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.