ATLANTA – State Representative Brian Strickland (R-McDonough) yesterday filed House Bill 870 to prevent discrimination within high school athletic memberships. The bill addresses the Georgia High School Association’s restriction of certain Georgia private schools from participating in athletic events with other private and public institutions.
“Parents in Georgia should not have to choose between extracurricular involvement and an education when deciding what is best for their child,” said Rep. Strickland. “With HB 870, we are simply confirming that the Georgia High School Association can no longer pick and choose which schools it wants to give the opportunity to participate in athletics. These decisions should be made by the individual schools rather than a larger private entity.”
HB 870 would prohibit any high school that receives state funding under the “Quality Basic Education Act” from participating in an athletic association that prohibits member schools from organizing and playing scrimmage matches, games, or other athletic competitions with nonmember schools. The bill further states that schools receiving state funding are not permitted to participate in athletic associations that prohibit religious expression on the clothing of student athletes.
For more information on HB 870, please click here.
Representative Brian Strickland represents the citizens of District 111, which includes portions of Henry County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and currently serves as the Vice Chairman on the Banks & Banking Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health, and the Economic Development & Tourism, Industry and Labor, Intragovernmental Coordination, and Judiciary Non-Civil committees.
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