The proposed legislation, known as The Vera Riley Act, aims to enhance access to interscholastic athletics for students enrolled in recognized non-public, charter, or alternative education institutions in Rhode Island. It mandates that any student in grades six through eight from a non-public, charter, or alternative institution that does not sponsor or participate in a particular interscholastic sport must be permitted to participate in that sport at the public middle school in the school district where the student resides, provided they meet certain eligibility requirements. These requirements include meeting applicable academic and conduct standards, obtaining written verification from the non-sponsoring school that the sport is not offered, and receiving approval from the public school principal for administrative coordination purposes.

The act also stipulates that no student shall be denied access to a public school interscholastic athletic program solely based on their enrollment at a non-sponsoring middle school, as long as the conditions outlined are satisfied. Furthermore, it clarifies that public schools are not required to create, expand, or alter their interscholastic athletic programs or team structures, but they are encouraged to provide reasonable access to eligible students. The Department of Education, in consultation with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, is tasked with promulgating rules and guidelines consistent with the provisions of this act to ensure timely implementation and nondiscriminatory access. The legislation will take effect upon its passage.