Massachusetts 194th General Court Status: Introduced 1 R cosponsors

H584 — An Act to ensure fairness and safety in school sports

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  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 194th General Court. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

In plain language

This bill aims to promote fairness and safety in school sports.

The bill addresses issues of fairness and safety in school sports programs. It seeks to establish standards that schools must follow to create a safe and equitable environment for all student-athletes.

Summary

An Act to ensure fairness and safety in school sports

Bill Text

  • Full text Current

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill adds new provisions regarding participation in single-sex sports teams and penalties related to playing against teams with athletes of the opposite sex.

  • Section 1E. (a) No public school shall require any student athlete on a single-sex sports team to participate in a match, or any part thereof, against an opposing team that includes one or more athletes of the opposite sex. No penalty, including but not limited to loss of playing time or loss of starting status, shall be imposed by a public school on such a student athlete for refusing to play in such a match.

    This provision protects student athletes on single-sex teams from being forced to compete against mixed-sex teams and from penalties for refusing such participation.

  • Section 1E. (b) No coach of a single-sex public school sports team shall be penalized by that school for forfeiting a match against an opposing team because such opposing team includes one or more athletes of the opposite sex.

    This provision ensures coaches of single-sex teams are not penalized for forfeiting matches against mixed-sex teams.

  • Section 1E. (c) The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, or any equivalent school organization or an entity or board that provides athletic officials, including, but not limited to, referees and umpires, for school sports or athletic events shall not penalize any public school, single-sex public school sports team, coach of such a team, or student athlete on such a team, for forfeiting or refusing to play in a match against an opposing team because such opposing team includes one or more athletes of the opposite sex, except that such a forfeit may be recorded as a loss.

    This provision protects various entities involved in school sports from penalties when matches are forfeited or students refuse to play due to the presence of opposite sex athletes.

  • For the purposes of this section, a “single-sex team” is any team that is designated as either a girls’ team or a boys’ team, as opposed to a team that is designated as co-ed.

    This adds a definition for 'single-sex team' to clarify which teams the provisions apply to.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 203 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (203)

203 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety civil-rights education
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Frequently asked questions

What does H584 do?
An Act to ensure fairness and safety in school sports
Who sponsors H584?
H584 is sponsored by John R. Gaskey (Republican).
What is the current status of H584?
This bill died with 194th General Court. It reached “Introduced” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track H584?
Track H584 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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