HB 1610 Summary

• Creates the Oklahoma Extracurricular Improvement and Accountability Act to regulate school athletic associations and rural elementary school organizations governing extracurricular activities.

• Requires all rules, regulations, and policies of school athletic associations to be subject to the Administrative Procedures Act and establishes that appeals regarding student and school eligibility must follow the Administrative Procedures Act.

• Defines student residency for eligibility purposes as the primary location of parents, guardian, or family member residence, with determination by the State Department of Education for public schools and other designated agencies for special schools.

• Establishes that penalties for rule violations must be based on willful violations only, and all new rules must be published to the general public for a period equivalent to the Administrative Procedures Act requirement before becoming effective.

• Provides expedited administrative law judge review for appeals from school athletic association boards, with further appeal rights to district court, and ensures coaches and school staff have due process protections for their credentials and employment.