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Raleigh – Gov. Roy Cooper signed House Bill 91 into law, which will change the structure of high school athletics in the state, on Nov. 23.
Under the new law, the State Board of Education will have oversight over the N.C. High School Athletics Association. The state Board of Education will enter into a four year memorandum of understanding with a nonprofit organization that will administer the rules and laws adopted by the state board. The NCHSAA, which has governed sports in the state since 1912, is expected to be that non-profit.
The bill passed the N.C. House of Representatives 71-43 and the state Senate 41-7.
“For months we worked tirelessly to determine the best governing structure that supports our student-athletes and is transparent and accountable,” state Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell) said.
“After productive conversations with the NCHSAA, state Board of Education, Governor’s Office and our Democratic colleagues, we’ve established a clear path forward. I want to thank Gov. Cooper for signing this bill into law.”
The state Board of Education will establish rules concerning student participation, health and safety, appeals, reporting and will establish an independent appeals board. It will also have the ability to delegate authority for penalties, administration – which includes division and conference classification, coaching, officiation, sportsmanship and scheduling – game play and fees. The NCHSAA will have to have an independent audit done every year as well.
The NCHSAA opposed an earlier version of the bill, which would replace the association with an independent commission appointed by the governor, but it did not oppose this version.