Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                        H.660
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                                      H.660
 Introduced by Representative Peterson of Clarendon
 Referred to Committee on
 Date:
 Subject: Education; interscholastic athletics
 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to allow public
 and approved independent schools to participate in an association or an athletic
 event conducted, organized, sanctioned, or sponsored by an association that
 organizes interscholastic high school sports if the association does not
 permanently ban or otherwise restrict any member schools or participating
 schools from participating in interscholastic athletic events sponsored by the
 association due to the school’s forfeiture in sponsored games or tournaments.
 The bill also proposes to create the Vermont Interscholastic Sports Study
 Committee and the Vermont Youth Sports Leagues Study Committee to study
 and make recommendations on the regulation of and provision of school,
 municipal, and private sports programs in Vermont.
    An act relating to youth sports in Vermont
 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
         * * * Participation in Interscholastic Sports Associations * * *
 Sec. 1. YOUTH SPORTS PARTICIPATION; FINDINGS
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     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                           H.660
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    The General Assembly finds that the permanent banning of a school from
 future participation in athletics due to a rules violation is detrimental to the
 growth and education of the student athletes and is anathema to the goals of
 student participation in activities.
 Sec. 2. 16 V.S.A. chapter 1, subchapter 4 is added to read:
                       Subchapter 4. Vermont School Sports
 § 101. ATHLETICS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND APPROVED
         INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
    (a) As used in this subchapter, “association” means an organization that
 conducts, organizes, sanctions, or sponsors interscholastic high school athletic
 events as one of the organization’s primary purposes.
    (b) A public school or approved independent school may participate in an
 association or an athletic event conducted, organized, sanctioned, or sponsored
 by an association, provided that the association complies with the provisions of
 this subchapter.
 § 102. RIGHT TO FORFEIT
    An association shall not permanently ban or otherwise restrict any member
 schools or participating schools from participating in interscholastic athletic
 events sponsored by the association due to the school’s forfeiture in sponsored
 games or tournaments.
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     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                            H.660
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                     * * * Study of Youth Sports Regulation * * *
 Sec. 3. YOUTH SPORTS AND SPORTS LEAGUES; FINDINGS
    The General Assembly finds:
          (1) Many youth sports programs throughout Vermont are designed,
 administered, and coached by volunteers, especially in rural areas.
          (2) Most volunteers are parents of participants who leave the program
 when their child is no longer involved.
          (3) This can lead to inconsistency in program quality, which can lead to
 poor participation, frustration for those who do not participate, and a high
 percentage of athletes who do not continue playing at the next level in a given
 sport.
          (4) There is a need to ensure that all parts of the State have well-run
 programs that provide a good athletic experience for all participants, which
 will help keep youths involved in positive activities and lead to better physical
 and mental health.
 Sec. 4. VERMONT INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS STUDY COMMITTEE;
            REPORT
    (a) Creation. There is created the Vermont Interscholastic Sports Study
 Committee to study the oversight of high school athletics in Vermont and
 propose alternative models of delivery and oversight.
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    (b) Membership. The Committee shall be composed of the following
 members and, to the extent possible, include members from all 14 counties in
 the State:
       (1) the Executive Director of the Vermont Principals’ Association or
 designee;
       (2) three athletic directors from Division 1 or 2 high school programs,
 all from different counties, appointed by the Secretary of Education;
       (3) three athletic directors from Division 3 or 4 high school programs,
 all from different counties, appointed by the Secretary of Education;
       (4) two coaches of women’s sports teams from Division 1 or 2 high
 school programs of varied sports and seasons, each from a different county,
 appointed by the Secretary of Education;
       (5) two coaches of men’s sports teams from Division 1 or 2 high school
 programs of varied sports and seasons, each from a different county, appointed
 by the Secretary of Education;
       (6) two coaches of women’s sports teams from Division 3 or 4 high
 school sports programs of varied sports and seasons, each from a different
 county, appointed by the Secretary of Education; and
       (7) two coaches of men’s sports teams from Division 3 or 4 high school
 sports programs of varied sports and seasons, each from a different county,
 appointed by the Secretary of Education.
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     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                         H.660
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    (c) Powers and duties. The Committee shall study the oversight of high
 school athletics in Vermont and shall consider and make recommendations on
 the following:
       (1) the establishment of standards for what a successful high school
 sports team shall include;
       (2) how best to monitor high school sports programs throughout
 Vermont to ensure all programs are providing a great experience for athletes;
       (3) how best to work with school athletic directors and coaches to help
 improve sports programs that have low participation numbers and are not
 competitive in games;
       (4) the establishment of coaching standards for all sports to ensure that
 all coaching staff is engaged with athletes in and out of season in order to
 improve skills and conditioning; and
       (5) guidelines and policy changes regarding the regulation of high
 school athletics in Vermont.
    (d) Assistance. The Committee shall have the administrative, technical,
 and legal assistance of the Agency of Education.
    (e) Report. On or before January 15, 2025, the Committee shall submit a
 written report to the House and Senate Committees on Education with its
 findings and any recommendations for legislative action. The report shall also VT LEG #372513 v.2
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 include any recommendations for the Agency of Education’s role in the
 regulation of high school athletics.
    (f) Meetings.
       (1) The Executive Director of the Vermont Principals’ Association or
 designee shall call the first meeting of the Committee to occur on or before
 July 1, 2024.
       (2) The Executive Director of the Vermont Principals’ Association or
 designee shall be the Committee chair.
       (3) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
       (4) The Committee shall cease to exist on July 1, 2025 as a study
 committee and may be reconstituted as a council pursuant to further legislative
 action.
    (g) Reimbursement. Members of the Committee who are not employees of
 the State of Vermont and who are not otherwise reimbursed for their
 attendance shall be entitled to reimbursement of expenses as permitted under
 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more than 10 meetings. These payments shall be
 made from monies appropriated to the Agency of Education.
    (h) Appropriation. The sum of $1,250.00 is appropriated to the Agency of
 Education from the General Fund in fiscal year 2025 for per diem
 compensation and reimbursement of expenses for members of the Committee.
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     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                         H.660
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 Sec. 5. VERMONT YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES STUDY COMMITTEE;
         REPORT
    (a) Creation. There is created the Vermont Youth Sports Leagues Study
 Committee to collect data on youth sports programs that are privately or
 municipally operated and funded.
    (b) Membership. The Committee shall be composed of the following
 members and, to the extent possible, include members from all 14 counties in
 the State:
       (1) the Executive Director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns
 or designee;
       (2) seven town or city recreation directors from municipalities with
 youth athletic programs, appointed by the Secretary of Education; and
       (3) seven volunteer coaches from various youth sports, all from different
 counties not represented by the recreation directors appointed under
 subdivision (2) of this subsection, appointed by the Secretary of Education.
    (c) Powers and duties. The Committee shall study privately and
 municipally operated and funded youth sports programs and shall take the
 following actions:
       (1) collect data from each Vermont municipality that offers sports
 programming for kindergarten through grade eight, or the corresponding age VT LEG #372513 v.2
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 levels, including information on whether the program is operated by a
 municipality, school, or private organization;
       (2) produce a report that shows athletic offerings at each grade and age
 level and information on how each program is administered for each town
 within the State; and
       (3) make recommendations for youth programs that include the
 following issues:
          (A) administration;
          (B) team coaching and training;
          (C) fields and facilities;
          (D) athletic equipment;
          (E) league associations;
          (F) game schedule; and
          (G) any other factors that might affect program quality to ensure that
 children have access to well-run athletic programs.
    (d) Assistance. The Committee shall have the administrative, technical,
 and legal assistance of the Agency of Education.
    (e) Report. On or before January 15, 2025, the Committee shall submit a
 written report to the House and Senate Committees on Education with its
 findings and the information required under subsection (c) of this section,
 including any recommendations for legislative action.
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     BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                       H.660
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    (f) Meetings.
       (1) The Executive Director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns
 or designee shall call the first meeting of the Committee to occur on or before
 July 1, 2024.
       (2) The Executive Director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns
 or designee shall be the chair.
       (3) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
       (4) The Committee shall cease to exist on July 1, 2025 as a study
 committee and may be reconstituted as a council pursuant to further legislative
 action.
    (g) Reimbursement. Members of the Committee who are not employees of
 the State of Vermont and who are not otherwise reimbursed for their
 attendance shall be entitled to reimbursement of expenses as permitted under
 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more than 10 meetings. These payments shall be
 made from monies appropriated to the Agency of Education.
    (h) Appropriation. The sum of $1,250.00 is appropriated to the Agency of
 Education from the General Fund in fiscal year 2025 for per diem
 compensation and reimbursement of expenses for members of the Committee.
                             * * * Effective Date * * *
 Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE
    This act shall take effect on passage.
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