TITLE: Relating to the requirements for hearings and meetings conducted by the University Interscholastic League.

SUMMARY: Relating to the requirements for hearings and meetings conducted by the University Interscholastic League.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the requirements for hearings and meetings conducted by the University Interscholastic League. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter D-1 to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER D-1. UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE HEARINGS AND MEETINGS Sec. 33.125. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "League" means the University Interscholastic League. (2) "Legislative council" means the governing body of the league that proposes, implements, and administers rules and procedures for the league as provided by this chapter. Sec. 33.126. CONSTITUTION AND CONTEST RULES. (a) The legislative council shall amend the league's constitution and contest rules as necessary to comply with this subchapter and submit the proposed amended constitution and rules to the commissioner for approval. The commissioner may not approve a provision of the proposed constitution or a rule submitted by the league that conflicts with the requirements of this subchapter. (b) The league's constitution and contest rules must: (1) clearly describe the procedure, process, and timing for a hearing or meeting held by, the reconsideration of a decision made by, or an appeal taken from a decision made by the state executive committee of the league; and (2) provide a person or school district campus guidance for actions available following the exhaustion of administrative remedies. Sec. 33.127. STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DUTIES. The state executive committee of the league: (1) must accept any appeal taken from a decision of a district executive committee of the league; and (2) may not impose a penalty until the penalty is reviewed and approved by the commissioner. Sec. 33.128. LEAGUE CONTEST RULES. The rules of the league shall, for any hearing or meeting by a district executive committee of the league or the state executive committee of the league regarding an alleged violation of league contest rules by a person or school district campus: (1) require the burden of proof to be borne by the person or campus alleging the violation or the district executive committee of the league or state executive committee of the league if the committee alleges the violation; (2) require the hearing or meeting to be audio-and video-recorded and made accessible through the league's Internet website not later than 24 hours after the end of the hearing or meeting; (3) require the district executive committee of the league or state executive committee of the league to provide, not later than five business days before the date of the hearing or meeting, written notice of the hearing or meeting, including a list of any evidence or witnesses the committee intends to present at the hearing or meeting relating to the alleged violation, to each person or campus involved in the alleged violation; (4) prohibit investigation or use of an anonymous complaint by the district executive committee of the league or state executive committee of the league; (5) require testimony presented by a person or campus, the district executive committee of the league, or the state executive committee of the league against a person or campus to be provided in person, under oath, and subject to cross-examination; (6) to the extent practicable, require the Texas Rules of Evidence to apply to the hearing or meeting in the same manner as those rules apply in a court of law; (7) require the district executive committee of the league or state executive committee of the league to ensure the presence of an attorney licensed in this state at the hearing or meeting to ensure compliance with applicable law and the league's constitution and contest rules; (8) permit a person or campus to: (A) be represented by legal counsel; and (B) participate, on the person's or campus's own behalf or through legal counsel, including by allowing: (i) opening statements; (ii) closing statements; (iii) cross-examination of witnesses; and (iv) submission of and objections to evidence consistent with the Texas Rules of Evidence; (9) prohibit the district executive committee of the league or state executive committee of the league from setting a predetermined time limit on the duration of the hearing or meeting; and (10) require the district executive committee of the league or state executive committee of the league to include in any decision of the committee issued after the hearing or meeting written findings of fact addressing the witness testimony and any evidence presented. Sec. 33.129. SUBPOENA. On the motion of any party to a hearing or meeting relating to an alleged violation of league contest rules, a district executive committee of the league or the state executive committee of the league may issue an administrative subpoena to compel the production of records relating to the hearing or meeting or the attendance of any person at the hearing or meeting. SECTION 2. Subchapter D-1, Chapter 33, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a hearing or meeting conducted by a district executive committee, the state executive committee, or any other committee of the University Interscholastic League commenced on or after the effective date of this Act. A hearing or meeting commenced before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the hearing or meeting commenced. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.