SB285:

High school interscholastic athletic competition; prevention of hate speech, etc.

Bill Summary:

High school interscholastic athletic competition;
prevention of hate speech and ethnically or racially insensitive expressions. Requires
the organization governing high school athletics and academic activities for
public and approved nonboarding nonpublic high schools (the organization), with
such funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly for such purpose
pursuant to the general appropriation act, to develop (i) rules and standards
for the prevention of inequities involving the use of hate speech or ethnically
or racially insensitive expressions during athletic and academic competitions
sponsored by the organization's member schools, (ii) procedures for the
enforcement of and penalties for the violation of such rules and standards, and
(iii) training materials on such rules and standards. The bill requires each
member school of the organization to abide by and implement such rules,
standards, procedures, and penalties and ensure that each student who will
participate in high school interscholastic athletic or academic competition,
the parent of each such student, and each individual, whether paid or unpaid,
who coaches a team that will participate in high school interscholastic
athletic or academic competition receives and reviews such training materials.
The bill requires the organization to make part of the process to become a
registered official in good standing for any association offering services to
the organization an education and training requirement that is consistent with
the training materials developed by the organization. The bill has a delayed
effective date of January 1, 2023.