House Bill 3488 aims to establish the West Virginia Homeschool Student Athletics Participation Act, which will allow homeschool students to participate in interscholastic athletic competitions alongside member schools of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC). The bill outlines that homeschool students, who are part of organized athletic teams, can compete in regular-season contests, provided their teams adhere to health, safety, and eligibility guidelines similar to those of WVSSAC member schools. However, it specifies that these homeschool teams will not be included in official WVSSAC rankings, standings, or postseason competitions, ensuring that their participation does not impact the competitive integrity of member schools.

The bill includes definitions for key terms such as "Homeschool Student," "Homeschool Organization," and "Member School," and it assigns the WVSSAC the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of this section. It also establishes a process for dispute resolution through a designated committee, with appeals directed to the West Virginia State Board of Education. The act is set to take effect 30 days after being passed and approved by the Governor, and it includes a severability clause to maintain the validity of the remaining provisions if any part is deemed invalid.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5-15h