Assembly Bill No. 949

CHAPTER 564

An act to add Section 33353.7 to the Education Code, relating to physical education.

[Approved by Governor October 7, 2015. Filed with Secretary of State October 7, 2015.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 949, Gonzalez. Physical education: competition cheer.

Existing law describes the California Interscholastic Federation, provides the intent of the Legislature regarding its policies, and requires it to report to the Legislature and the Governor on its evaluation and accountability activities on or before January 1, 2016. Existing federal law, Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972, prohibits sex discrimination in an educational institution’s programs and activities.

This bill would require the California Interscholastic Federation, in consultation with the State Department of Education, to, no later than July 1, 2017, develop guidelines, procedures, and safety standards for the purpose of classifying competition cheer as an interscholastic sport, as specified. The bill would require the California Interscholastic Federation to seek a United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Title IX compliance designation for competition cheer, and would specify that competition cheer shall not be counted toward a school’s Title IX compliance unless the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights deems competition cheer compliant with its definition of a sport.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 33353.7 is added to the Education Code, to read:

33353.7.  

(a) No later than July 1, 2017, the California Interscholastic Federation, in consultation with the department, shall develop guidelines, procedures, and safety standards for the purpose of classifying competition cheer as an interscholastic sport that is consistent with the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights’ definition of a sport.

(b) For purposes of this section, “competition cheer” means a sport in which teams participate in direct, head-to-head competition with one another using an objective scoring system.

(c) The California Interscholastic Federation shall seek a United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights Title IX compliance designation for competition cheer. Competition cheer shall not be counted towards a school’s Title IX compliance unless the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights deems competition cheer compliant with its definition of a sport.



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