AS AMENDED IN HOUSE:

AS PASSED SENATE:

This bill would amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A. to place certain conditions on the Georgia High School Association if public schools are allowed to participate in the organization’s activities. It would add a new Code sections to include:

1. A definition of “athletic association” which directly implies the GHSA;

2. A limitation on participation in an association’s activities unless:

   1. Members of the executive committee, board of trustees or any associated boards are employed by a LBOE or private school for a minimum of 100 school days per year;

   2. The executive committee:

      1. May include the State School Superintendent or designee, representative from LBOE member associations [GSBA], local school superintendents [GSSA], secondary school principals [GASSP], athletic directors and athletic coaches in Georgia.

      2. Would include 2 4 females appointed from nominees submitted to the executive committee by each region;

      3. Would authorize each member to vote on all operational matters.

   3. Term limits are set for the executive committee, board of trustees, or any associated boards to a total of four ten years;

   4. Every school is allowed one vote to select the executive director;

3. The Code would not apply to any association which involves disabled athletes.

4. It would reconstitute the General Assembly’s High School Athletics Overview Committee and sets for the membership and terms of office of same.

5. It would give the oversight committee authority to call witnesses and request documents, if the General Assembly is in session. If not, it could do so with the permission of the Speaker and Lt. Governor.

6. The committee would file an annual report to the General Assembly, and the Attorney General and DOE would cooperate to monitor the operation of the committee and the associations.

7. The committee would evaluate the performance of athletic associations with these criteria:

   1. Fairness and equity in establishing and implementing its standards; and

   2. Promotion of academics and sportsmanship.

      A detailed financial report of revenues and expenditures would be published and provided to each member school; and the association would provids separate regions and playoffs for private schools and public schools in classifications for schools with FTE counts of 640 or less.