SB58 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Henry Eugene “Hank” Erwin Jr.

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Schools, students taught at home by either private tutor or under church school law may participate in public K-12 extracurricular activities, Tim Tebow Act

Summary

The Tim Tebow Act would let homeschooled students (taught by a private tutor or under church school law) participate in public K-12 extracurricular activities, including sports and band.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes homeschooled students to join athletics, athletic teams, and band sponsored by public or non-public schools that permit it, with participation treated like public school students. Students must register with their local board, pay fees equal to those charged to public-school participants, and follow the same behavior, academic, and residency standards. Insurance coverage would extend to these students (with any additional premium paid by the student), and no school team using these students would be blocked from competition; eligibility and transfer rules also apply if a student moves between public, private, or church-related schools.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: Students taught at home by private tutors or under church school law. They would be eligible to participate in public or permitted non-public school extracurricular activities, must register, pay fees, and meet the same standards as other participants.
• Group 2: Public and non-public schools and their districts. They would be required to allow eligible homeschooled students to participate, provide applicable insurance coverage, apply residency and eligibility rules, and ensure no impediment to competition with other schools.

Key Provisions

• Identifies the act as the Tim Tebow Act and allows home-educated students to participate in athletics, athletic teams, and band, including other activities open to these students by local decision.
• Requires the student to register with the local board of education, declare intent to participate, and pay a participation/activity fee equal to that charged to public school participants.
• Mandates that homeschooled students adhere to the same standards of behavior, responsibility, performance, code of conduct, academic standards, and residency as public school participants; includes discipline for felonies or delinquent acts and requires district policy for eligibility.
• Specifies that insurance coverage provided by the school district would cover these students, with any additional premium paid by the student.
• Prevents any public school team from being impeded in competition due to including homeschooled students; allows participation in non-public schools if permitted by those schools.
• Allows participation by students enrolled in church schools under the same framework and documentation standards, with similar eligibility and residency rules.
• Notes that although the bill could require local funds, it is exempt from local-approval constraints under Amendment 621 because it falls within specified exceptions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education