NC H858

Establishes a 15-member Commission to Study the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Classification and Alignment of High School Athletics, with members appointed by the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Speaker of the House.

Commission membership includes representatives from the Department of Public Instruction, NCHSAA, school principals, athletic coaches/directors, sports medicine physicians, athletic trainers, school superintendents, and parents of student athletes.

Commission shall study NCHSAA's current classification system (4A, 3A, 2A, 1A), appeal processes for classification challenges, safety issues for students in mismatched conferences, and travel distance as a factor in conference assignments.

Commission shall examine alternative classification and conference assignment methods to improve student participation and safety in competitive athletics, particularly regarding injuries and reduced rest time in small schools competing against large schools.

Commission must submit final report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services by March 1, 2014, and shall terminate upon filing the report.