SB249 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris ElliottSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to K-12 school athletics, to require a K-12 public school to determine a student's eligibility to participate in a sport at least 21 days prior to the first event for that sport; to provide that an athletic association's eligibility determination is final; and to prohibit public K-12 schools from membership in athletic associations under certain circumstances.

Summary

SB249 would require K-12 public schools to determine a student's eligibility for interscholastic sports at least 21 days before the first event, make the association's eligibility decision final for the school year, and prevent schools from joining associations that fail to meet this rule.

What This Bill Does

Public K-12 schools must determine each student's eligibility to participate in an interscholastic sport at least 21 days before the first scheduled event, following the rules of the athletic association. The athletic association's eligibility determination would be final for the remainder of the school year. Schools may seek clarification from the association, but the association's decision would still be binding. Public K-12 schools may not be members of an athletic association that does not provide a timely eligibility determination (21 days before the first event).

Who It Affects

• K-12 public schools and school districts: must determine student eligibility 21 days before the first event and may be barred from joining associations that do not provide timely determinations.
• Athletic associations: must issue eligibility determinations at least 21 days before the first event and have those determinations be final for the school year; could lose member status if they fail to meet the timing requirement.
• Students: their eligibility to participate in sports would be determined earlier and be governed by the association's rules, with final decisions for the school year.

Key Provisions

• Definition of athletic association: an organization operating in Alabama with authority over member schools' athletic programs, that receives public funds and whose member institutions use public facilities.
• Eligibility determination timing: both the school and the athletic association must determine a student's eligibility at least 21 days prior to the first scheduled event for the sport, in accordance with the association's rules.
• Finality of eligibility determination: the association's eligibility decision is final for the remainder of the school year.
• Membership restriction: public K-12 schools may not be members of an athletic association that does not make a timely eligibility determination (at least 21 days before the first event).
• Effective date: the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after the Governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

K-12 school athletics, to require eligibility determination