SB417 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Rusty GloverScott BeasonShadrack McGillDick BrewbakerBryan Taylor

Session

Regular Session 2012

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 allow home-taught or church-school students to participate in public and certain nonpublic school athletic activities under the same rules as other student athletes.

What This Bill Does

Allows home-educated or church-school students to join athletics and athletic teams sponsored by public or permissive nonpublic schools. Requires these students to register with the local district, pay the same participation fees as public students, and follow the same behavior, academic, and residency standards (with district policies on felony status). If they participate at a public school, they must commit to that public school for the entire school year (though they may participate in different activities at the same school). Standards begin in the first semester of 7th grade, and insurance coverage would extend to these students; if an extra premium is needed, the student pays it. The bill also allows participation in nonpublic schools that permit such participation and ensures teams are not impeded by including these students.

Who It Affects

• Students taught at home or enrolled in church schools would be able to participate in public or permitted nonpublic school athletic activities, subject to registration, fees, standards, and residency rules.
• Public and nonpublic schools, local boards of education, and related administrators would implement registration, fee collection, standards enforcement, eligibility rules, and insurance coverage for these students, and would ensure fair competition and non-discrimination.

Key Provisions

• Defines extracurricular activities as school-authorized athletics and athletic teams.
• Allows home-instructed or church-school students to participate in athletics at public or permitted nonpublic schools if allowed by the school.
• Requires registration with the local school district, and payment of fees equal to those charged to public-school participants.
• Requires the participating student to follow the same behavior, responsibility, performance, conduct, academic standards, and residency requirements as other participants, with policies for felonies.
• If participating at a public school, the student must commit to that public school for the entire school year; may participate in different activities at the same school.
• Standards for participation begin in the first semester of the 7th grade; local boards must not make participation harder for these students.
• Insurance coverage provided by the school district would extend to these students (with any additional premiums paid by the student).
• No public school team may be impeded from competing because these students participate; allows participation in nonpublic schools that permit it.
• If a student transfers to a public school, they may be eligible to participate in the first grading period with a successful evaluation from the previous year.
• If a student is academically ineligible, they must regain eligibility under the same standards as other students.
• The measure is designed to be funded by local school funds as part of a local board, with an constitutional provision noting exemptions for local approval.
• Effective date: becomes law immediately upon governor’s signature.

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