(6-9-26) Today the Ohio Senate passed an amendment that was added to Ohio Senate Bill 276 and contains what is known as the Student Athlete Mobility (SAM) Act.

Related:

New Legislative Action Could Overturn Earlier OHSAA Bylaw Failed Votes

Representative King Introduces SAM Act Legislation to Encourage Participation in Team Sports

The bill passed today in the Senate.

The key language provides that:

A student may petition to participate in an extracurricular activity at a neighboring public school if the student’s own public or chartered nonpublic school does not offer that activity.

Under the bill:

  • The neighboring school district’s board of education may approve or deny the petition.
  • Approval is discretionary; the receiving school is not required to accept the student.
  • If approved, the student is subject to the same academic and conduct standards as students enrolled in that district.
  • The student remains enrolled in and graduates from the student’s home school.
  • Participation is limited to the specific extracurricular activity that is unavailable at the student’s school.
  • The legislation applies to interscholastic athletics as well as other extracurricular activities.  

The bill’s language creates a statutory process independent of the current rules of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), which presently governs participation through its own eligibility bylaws.

Recently during an OHSAA Referendum vote the issue failed, while 12 others passed.

OHSAA Member Schools Pass 11 of 12 Referendum Items, Issue 2B Failed

Issue 2B Failed 416-358 (29 abstained) 

It would have allowed students at a public school that does not sponsor a particular team sport to participate in that sport at another public school, provided schools were within 20 miles and the superintendents of both schools approved arrangement.