The bill, referred to as HB251 Enrolled, addresses the issue of eligibility for dependent children of full-time active duty military parents to participate in interscholastic athletic contests when they enroll in a new public K-12 school due to a military-related relocation. The bill prohibits public K-12 schools from denying these children immediate eligibility to participate in sports based on the timing of their enrollment, which may be affected by their parent's permanent change of station orders. The bill also allows schools and athletic associations to require military parents to provide their permanent change of station orders to verify the legitimacy of the move.
Furthermore, the bill extends this prohibition to athletic associations, which are defined as organizations with authority over member institutions' athletic programs that receive public funds and use public facilities. The bill is set to become effective on October 1, 2024. The legislative action includes an insertion marking the passage of the bill by the Senate on May 8, 2024, and the bill's origination and passage in the House on April 11, 2024.