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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to equal opportunity for access by home-schooled students |
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to University Interscholastic League-sponsored activities; |
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authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 33.0833 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.0833. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS |
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TO PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ACTIVITIES. |
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(a) In this section, "home-schooled student" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 29.916. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (g), a public school |
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that participates in an activity sponsored by the University |
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Interscholastic League shall provide a home-schooled student, who |
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otherwise meets league eligibility standards to represent that |
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school in a league activity, with the opportunity to participate in |
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the activity on behalf of the school in the same manner that the |
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school provides the opportunity to participate to students enrolled |
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in the school. |
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(c) A home-schooled student who seeks to participate or who |
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participates in a league activity on behalf of a school is subject |
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to the relevant policies that apply to students enrolled in the |
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school, including policies regarding registration, age |
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eligibility, fees, insurance, transportation, physical condition, |
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qualifications, responsibilities, event schedules, standards of |
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behavior, and performance. |
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(d) The parent or legal guardian of a home-schooled student |
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is responsible for oversight of academic standards relating to the |
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student's participation in a league activity. As a condition of |
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eligibility to participate in a league activity during the first |
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six weeks of a school year, a home-schooled student must |
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demonstrate grade-level academic proficiency on any nationally |
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recognized, norm-referenced assessment instrument, including the |
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Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Test, California |
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Achievement Test, and Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills. A |
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home-schooled student demonstrates the required academic |
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proficiency by achieving a composite, core, or survey score that is |
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within the average or higher than average range of scores, as |
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established by the applicable testing service. For purposes of |
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this subsection, a school district shall accept assessment results |
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administered or reported by a third party. |
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(e) A home-schooled student's demonstration of academic |
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proficiency under Subsection (d) is sufficient for purposes of that |
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subsection for the school year in which the student achieves the |
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required score and the subsequent school year. |
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(f) After the first six weeks of a school year, the parent or |
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legal guardian of a home-schooled student participating in a league |
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activity on behalf of a public school must periodically, in |
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accordance with the school's grading calendar, provide written |
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verification to the school indicating that the student is receiving |
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a passing grade in each course or subject being taught. |
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(g) A home-schooled student is not authorized by this |
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section to participate in a league activity during the remainder of |
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any school year during which the student was previously enrolled in |
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a public school. |
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(h) The University Interscholastic League may not prohibit |
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a home-schooled student from participating in league activities in |
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the manner authorized by this section. |
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(i) This section expires July 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. Effective July 1, 2017, Subchapter D, Chapter |
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33, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 33.0834 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 33.0834. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS |
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TO PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ACTIVITIES. |
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(a) In this section, "home-schooled student" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 29.916. |
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(b) Notwithstanding the expiration of Section 33.0833, as |
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added by S.B. 929, Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, |
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2013, a home-schooled student who participated in an activity |
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sponsored by the University Interscholastic League under the |
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authority of that section before July 1, 2017, may continue to |
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participate in the same league activity on the same terms |
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previously specified by that section. |
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(c) This section expires July 1, 2030. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. Except as otherwise provided by this Act: |
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(1) this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a |
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vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution; and |
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(2) if this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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* * * * * |