House Bill 605

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A STUDY COMMISSION EMPOWERED TO REPORT ON THE REGULATION OF HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES AND TO SET OUT THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION'S MEMBERSHIP; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The Legislature understands that public school athletics and activities are important parts of the educational experience for Mississippi's public-school students. Oversight of such programs must be transparent and accessible to public school administrators and the parents of school children and the taxpayers of the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 2. (1) Upon the effective date of this act, there shall be appointed a High School Athletics and Activities Study Commission whose membership shall be as follows:

(a) The chairpersons of the Senate and House Education Committees, or their designees;

(b) Three (3) members of the Mississippi State Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(c) Three (3) members of the Mississippi House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives;

(d) The Executive Director of the Mississippi High School Activities Association;

(e) Two (2) public school superintendents, one (1) of whom shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and one (1) of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(f) Two (2) school district athletic directors, one (1) of whom shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and one (1) of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(g) One (1) public high school principal or headmaster of a private school whose activities are regulated by the Mississippi High School Activities Association, recommended by the State Superintendent of Public Education;

(h) The State Superintendent of Public Education, or his or her designee; and

(i) Two (2) parents of high school students who participated in athletics or other regulated activities prior to graduation. One (1) such parent shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and one (1) shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) The Commission shall study the current regulation of high school athletics and activities including, but not limited to:

(a) The processes for the adoption of rules and policies, including methods for seeking input from schools, parents and students;

(b) The subject matter of current rules including definitions and conflicts between rules and by-laws;

(d) Alternative methods utilized in other states for the regulation of high school athletics and activities;

(e) The merits and weaknesses of the current methods of regulating athletics and activities in Mississippi;

(f) Consider the recommendations made by the PEER Committee in its 2015 and 2025 reports on the Mississippi High School Activities Association;

(g) Consider the establishment or modification of appeals and oversight methods for ensuring that anybody charged with regulating activities and athletics is managed fairly; and (h) Any other subject the commission considers to be of merit.

(3) The Commission shall report to the Legislature its findings and conclusions regarding the oversight and regulation of high school athletics and activities including proposed legislation to give force and effect to these recommendation by December 15, 2025. After filing its report, this section shall stand repealed.

(4) The Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) shall assist the Commission in preparing its report. The Commission may also call upon the State Department of Education and the staffs of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, House and Senate Legislative Services Office, and the Senate Legislative Services Office to provide assistance in the preparation of the study commission's report.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.