SF 555

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/23/2012 09:01am

A bill for an act
relating to education; directing the Minnesota State High School League to
amend its transfer rule, including the procedure to determine student eligibility;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 128C.02, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 128C.02, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

Subd. 2a.

Transfer rule; procedure to determine student eligibility.

(a) The
league must amend its transfer rule to allow an otherwise eligible high school student
who transfers between schools due to the family's changed economic circumstances or
to pursue a specific learning opportunity not available in the student's last school to be
immediately and fully eligible to play varsity sports in the school or district enrolling that
incoming transfer student. A student with a disability who transfers between schools to
pursue a specific learning opportunity, whether the transfer is the decision of the parent or
district, is immediately and fully eligible to play varsity sports in the school or district
enrolling the student.

(b) As part of its fair hearing procedure and consistent with this subdivision, the
league must establish and publish, including in an electronic format, specific substantive
requirements and timelines for appeal so that a parent or student who files a timely appeal
of a school or district decision not to certify a student's eligibility will receive a final
board decision regarding that appeal before the beginning of the proximate sports season,
including the fall sports season. The league's eligibility committee must include members
representing nonpublic schools that participate in league-sponsored competition.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective for the 2011-2012 school year and
later.