The Arkansas Legislature has sent House Bill 1633 to the desk of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders that will once again change transfer rules for Arkansas high school athletes.
The bill was introduced by Republican’s Keith Brooks and Bart Hester on Feb. 28. It passed the House on March 12, then passed Senate on March 19. It does have an emergency clause attached to it, meaning that it will be law as soon as the Governor signs it. It was sent to the Governor’s office on April 9.
The bill changes the eligibility requirements for extracurricular activities, mandating that students who transfer schools after June 1 following their 9th-grade year must sit out of varsity athletic activities for 365 days. This restriction applies to public, private, and charter schools.
According to the summer of the bill, this bill amends the eligibility requirements for homeschooled students and students transferring schools to participate in interscholastic and extracurricular activities, particularly athletic activities, at public and private schools in Arkansas.
Key changes include the requirement that homeschooled students must be approved to participate by May 1 of the school year for which they will be enrolled in grades seven through ten, rather than the previous deadline of July 1. If not approved by this date, they will be ineligible to participate in varsity athletic activities for up to 365 days. Additionally, the bill specifies that students transferring to nonpublic schools must also enroll by May 1 to be immediately eligible for athletic activities.
The bill also introduces a new section regarding the transfer of students to nonpublic schools, outlining the process for completing a Changing Schools/Athletic Participation form, which must be signed by relevant parties unless there is evidence of recruiting for athletic purposes.
The amendments aim to streamline the eligibility process and ensure that schools can adequately plan for student participation in extracurricular activities. An emergency clause is included, emphasizing the need for timely decisions regarding school transfers to facilitate proper planning for the upcoming school year.
ArkansasVarsity.com spoke with Bobby Swofford from the Arkansas Activities Association to receive more clarification on the pending law due to many different rumors circulating on social media and amongst coaches and administrators, to include a rumor that the bill was already made law and must be followed.
Swofford said that as of Friday afternoon the Governor has night signed the bill.
“To our knowledge the Governor has not signed it year meaning nothing has changed as of right now,” said Swofford.
The bill will still allow for student-athletes to remain eligible during their junior and senior year if they make bona fide moves.
“If a student-athlete makes a bona fide move, the mileage does not matter. Only the district that they live in,” said Swofford. We can’t rule a student ineligible if mom or dad get a new job and have to move.”
Additionally, a rumor that student-athletes will have to move at least 25 miles to be eligible only applies to private schools.
“The mileage rule has only ever been for private schools since they don’t technically have a school district,” said Swofford.
You can read HB 1633 by
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