Bill Caption

Relating to the functions and duties of the University Interscholastic League.

Fiscal Notes

State Impact

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB213, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: based on the level of state cost related to this provision in the current biennium, a positive impact of $1,000,000 through the biennium ending August 31, 2017.

Local Government

The bill would require students to submit a "Preparticipation Physical Evaluation--Medical History" form to participate in UIL extracurricular athletic activities. This requirement is not expected to result in a fiscal impact to school districts as students are already required by UIL rule to complete an annual physical exam. The bill would require superintendents to provide the UIL a notarized statement reporting certain concussion-related information. This requirement is not expected to result in a significant fiscal impact to school districts or open-enrollment charter schools since the statements are submitted annually and the concussion information should be readily available to schools. 

Bill Analysis

SB 213 would clarify the University Interscholastic League as a state agency within the University of Texas. The bill would discontinue the statewide steroid testing program,  but require UIL coaches to still complete steroid educational courses and advise parents and students on the adverse risks of steroid use. It would provide that each student participating in an extracurricular athletic activity must complete the UIL Preparticipation Physical Evaluation, which includes both a physical examination form and a medical history form and remove language that prohibits who can sign off on the physical examination.  If a student indicates a history of cardiac or neurological conditions, the individual signing off on the physical examination must refer the student to their treating physician. UIL contests would not be strictly limited to academic, music, and athletic contests.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill affirms the principle of limited government. The limited government principle can be affected by a fiscal change.  By discontinuing the statewide steroid testing program, which has a high fiscal cost and has yielded limited results, the state would experience a positive fiscal impact each year. The remainder of the bill would make mostly administrative, clerical, and non-substantive updates to current code with no discernible connection to our liberty principles.  We support SB 213.