HBA-NRS S.B. 524 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 524 By: Armbrister Public Education 4/2/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Many states permit open competition between private and public schools under rules that are similar to those that govern the University Interscholastic League (UIL). Senate Bill 524 prohibits the UIL from denying eligible private schools or students in Texas the opportunity to participate in an activity sponsored by UIL or become a member of a UIL district. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 524 amends the Education Code to prohibit the University Interscholastic League (league) from denying a private school or its students the opportunity to participate in league sponsored activities or to become a member of an appropriate league district because the school is a private school. The bill does not provide exemptions for private schools or its students from satisfying eligibility requirements. For a private school to be eligible to participate in league activities, the school is required to draw students from the same area as the closest public school district, be accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), offer a four-year high school curriculum, offer interscholastic competition, require daily student attendance at a specific location and have 500 or more enrolled students. The bill provides that a private school seeking to participate in a league activity or to become a member of a league district must apply to the league on a signed form, certify its eligibility, and attach proof of accreditation. The bill prohibits the league from imposing eligibility requirements that exceed the state requirements on extracurricular activities or league rules for public schools. The bill requires the league to issue a certificate of approval, determine the appropriate league district in which an eligible private school will participate by multiplying the private school's enrollment by two, and place the private school in an appropriate league district based on that enrollment figure, provided that the private school is placed in a league district not lower than the 3A level. The bill provides that a private school that participates in a league activity or that is a member of a league district must administer the academic skills assessment instrument to students at the school, provide results of the assessment to the commissioner of education, maintain confidentiality and reimburse the agency for the cost of administering the instrument. The bill also requires TEA to aggregate information relating to students enrolled in a private school separately from the information relating to other students. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. The Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.