Office of Interscholastic Athletics

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-5-170 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE OF INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS THE SOLE GOVERNING BODY OF ATHLETICS IN SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE OFFICE, TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROMULGATE CERTAIN RELATED REGULATIONS, TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT ENGAGE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS WISHING TO COMPETE WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC EVENTS SHALL SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNANCE OF ITS INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS BY THE OFFICE AND MAY NOT CONTRACT WITH, JOIN, OR OTHERWISE ASSOCIATE WITH ANOTHER ENTITY THAT OVERSEES OR AUTHORIZES INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS, TO PROVIDE RIGHTS FOR PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THEIR STUDENTS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS, AND TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR APPEALS FROM DECISIONS BY THE OFFICE ON ALLEGED VIOLATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 59-39-160, RELATING TO ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES, SECTION 59-40-50, RELATING TO THE ELIGIBILITY OF CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CERTAIN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC EVENTS OFFERED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SECTION 59-63-70, RELATING TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETES WHO PARTICIPATE IN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZED SPORTS TEAMS, AND SECTION 59-63-75, RELATING TO THE APPLICABILITY OF CONCUSSION PROTOCOLS APPLICABLE TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS, ALL SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND TO MAKE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2022.