Under existing law, the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association controls, supervises and regulates all interscholastic athletic events and other interscholastic events in public schools and governs, among other matters, the eligibility and participation of certain children in interscholastic activities and events. (NRS 385B.050, 385B.060, 385B.130) Under existing regulations, any pupil who transfers to another school is presumed ineligible to participate in any sanctioned sport at the school to which the pupil transfers for 180 school days. (NAC 385B.716) Section 1.5 of this bill authorizes a pupil who transfers from one type of school to a school of a different type to elect, once in his or her lifetime, to be immediately eligible to participate and practice in a sanctioned sport or other interscholastic activity or event at the school to which the pupil transfers. Existing law authorizes a pupil or school that is aggrieved by a final decision or order made pursuant to a regulation adopted by the Association by an administrator, a panel of principals or the Executive Director of the Association to appeal the decision or order to a hearing officer appointed by the Executive Director. (NRS 385B.100) Section 1.3 of this bill authorizes a person or school who is aggrieved by a decision or order of the hearing officer to appeal to the State Board of Education. Section 1.1 of this bill makes a conforming change to prohibit the stay of a decision of the State Board in the same manner as a decision of the Association. Section 1 of this bill prohibits the Association from penalizing, retaliating against or taking adverse action against a school or person for: (1) participating in the legislative process; or (2) advocating for or against any policy before a public body. Section 3 of this bill requires the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association to amend its rules and regulations to conform to the provisions of sections 1.3 and 1.5 on or before June 30, 2024.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 385B.130, 385B.170
Reprint 1: 385B.090, 385B.100, 385B.130, 385B.170
Reprint 2: 385B.090, 385B.100, 385B.130
BDR: 385B.130, 385B.170