GA SB343

Public high schools receiving Quality Basic Education Act funding are prohibited from participating in, sponsoring, or providing coaching staff for interscholastic sports events unless the governing athletic association meets specific structural requirements, including 4-year term limits for board members, one-school-one-vote elections for executive director, two female executive committee members per region, and annual publication of detailed financial reports to member schools.

Athletic association executive committee and board members must be employed by a local school system or private school for a minimum of 100 school days per year.

Creates the High School Athletics Overview Committee as a joint legislative committee composed of 12 members: 5 House members (including 1 minority party) appointed by the Speaker, 5 Senate members (including 1 minority party) appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and the chairs (or designees) of the House Education Committee and Senate Education and Youth Committee, all serving two-year terms.

The committee is charged with periodically reviewing athletic association operations, evaluating them on fairness, equity, promotion of academic achievement, and good sportsmanship, and submitting an annual report of findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1 each year.

Athletic associations exclusively serving disabled athletes are exempt from the requirements, and the Attorney General is authorized to bring legal actions to enforce compliance.