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- 83rd Session (2025)
Senate Bill No. 305–Senators Doñate, Steinbeck, Cruz-Crawford;
Flores, Nguyen and Ohrenschall
Joint Sponsors: Assemblymembers Torres-Fossett;
Hibbetts and Yeager
CHAPTER..........
AN ACT relating to interscholastic activities; requiring the Nevada
Interscholastic Activities Association to adopt regulations
that set forth the process for the Association to designate a
sanctioned sport; providing certain requirements for such
regulations; requiring the Association to publish such
regulations on the Internet website maintained by the
Association; providing for the desig nation of lacrosse as a
sanctioned sport; establishing the Subcommittee on
Interscholastic Activit ies of the Joint Interim Standing
Committee on Education ; requiring the Subcommittee to
conduct an interim study of the Association; and providing
other matters properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law authorizes the formation of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities
Association to control, supervise and regulate all interscholastic athletic events and
other interscholastic events in public schools in this State. (NRS 385B.050) Under
existing law, the Association is required to adopt rules and regulations as is
necessary to govern such interscholastic activities and events. (NRS 385B.060)
Section 2 of this bill requires the Association to adopt regulations that: (1) set forth
the process for the Association to designate a sanctioned sport; (2) set forth
standards for determining , without limitation, the rules governing such sanctioned
sports; and (3) prioritize the designation of club sports as a sanctioned sport.
Section 2 additionally requir es such regulations to be published on the Internet
website maintained by the Association. Section 5 of this bill requires the
Association to adopt such regulations not later than October 1, 2025. If such
regulations are not adopted on or before October 1, 2025, section 2 transfers the
authority to adopt such regulations to the Nevada Association of School
Superintendents. Finally, section 2 provides that a school that is a member of the
Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association is not required to take certain actions,
including, without limitation, establish ing an athletic program, for any sport that is
sanctioned as a result of such regulations.
Under section 2, such regulations must authorize a person to submit a request
for the Association to designate a sanctioned sport and require the Association to
approve or deny the request for designation of the sanctioned sport not later than 1
year after the Association rece ives the request. If the Association fails to act on
such a request and adopt any necessary regulations within 1 year after the
Association receives the request, section 2 transfers the authority to act on such a
request and adopt any necessary regulations to the Nevada Association of School
Superintendents.
Existing law establishes the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education
and prescribes the duties of the Committee. (NRS 218E.320, 218E.330, 218E.615)
Section 2.3 of this bill: (1) establishes the S ubcommittee on Interscholastic
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Activities of the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education; and (2) sets forth
the membership of the Subcommittee. Section 2.5 of this bill sets forth
requirements governing: (1) meetings of the Subcommittee; and (2) com pensation
and pier diem allowance and travel expenses for members of the Subcommittee.
Finally, section 2.7 of this bill authorizes the Subcommittee to, without limitation:
(1) review and comment on any action, activity or administrative policy, rule or
regulation of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association; (2) conduct related
investigations and hold hearings; and (3) review interscholastic activities and
events and competitions in this State to ensure compliance with certain federal
laws.
Section 5.3 of this bill requires the Nevada Interscholastic Activities
Association to adopt: (1) regulations designating lacrosse as a sanctioned sport for
boys and as a sanctioned sport for girls beginning with the 2026 -2027 school year;
and (2) the rules and regulations necessary to allow pupils to participate in lacrosse
as a sanctioned sport beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Under section 2, if
the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association does not adopt such rules and
regulations: (1) the authority to adopt such rules and regulations transfers to the
Nevada Association of School Superintendents; (2) lacrosse must be conducted as a
sanctioned sport under the rules prescribed by the Nevada Association of School
Superintendents until such time as t he Nevada Interscholastic Activities
Association adopts regulation s to amend such rules ; and (3) the Nevada
Interscholastic Activities Association is required to transfer a payment in the
amount of $25,000 to the Nevada Association of School Superintendent s to defray
costs associated with adopting such regulations. Finally, section 5.3 requires the
Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association to provide to the Joint Interim
Standing Committee on Education quarterly reports of the progress of the Nevada
Interscholastic Activities Association in implementing lacrosse as a sanctioned
sport.
Section 5.7 of this bill requires the Subcommittee on Interscholastic Activities
of the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education to conduct an interim study
of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association during the 2025-2026 interim.
EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Chapter 385B of NRS is hereby amended by adding
thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 3, inclusive, of this
act.
Sec. 2. 1. The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association
shall adopt regulations that set for th the process for the
Association to designate a sanctioned sport. The regulations
adopted pursuant to this section must include, without limitation,
provisions:
(a) That establish the process for:
(1) Determining t he rules governing the eligibility and
participation of pupils in a sanctioned sport;
(2) Prescribing the rules used in competition;
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(3) Establishing the length of a season of a sanctioned
sport and the date upon which a school may begin practicing for a
season of a sanctioned sport;
(4) Establishing guidelines for the safety of pupils that
comply with any regulations adopted pursuant to NRS 385B.080;
and
(5) Prescribing any other guidelines necessary to govern
participation in a sanctioned sport;
(b) That authorize any person or entity to submit a request for
the Association to designate a sanctioned sport and require the
Association to approve or deny such a request not later than 1 year
after the Association receives the request; and
(c) That prioritize the designation of club sports that have been
established at schools as a sanctioned sport.
2. The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association shall
publish any regulations adopted pursuant to this section on the
Internet website maintained by the Association.
3. If the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association does
not adopt the regulations required by this section on or before
October 1, 2025, or does not approve or deny a request received
pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 and adopt any necessary
regulations within 1 year after receipt of such a request:
(a) The authority, power and duty to approve or deny a request
received pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 and adopt any
rules or regulations required by this section that have not been
adopted by the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association
transfers to the Nevada Association of School Superintendents;
and
(b) Any rules or regulations adopted by the Nevada
Association of School Superintendents pursuant to paragraph ( a)
shall be effective until such time as the Nevada Interscholastic
Activities Association amends such rules or regulations. The
provisions of chapter 233B of NRS governing the adoption of
regulations apply to any regulations adopted by the Nevada
Association of School Superintendents pursuant to this subsection.
4. A school is not required to establish athletic programs, host
athletic competitions or other interscholastic activities or events or
otherwise support the formation of any teams , clubs or
organizations for any sport that is sanctioned pursuant to any
regulations adopted pursuant to this section.
Sec. 2.1. As used in sections 2.1 to 2.7, inclusive, of this act,
unless the context otherwise requires, “Subcommittee” means the
Subcommittee on Interscholastic Activit ies of the Joint Interim
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Standing Committee on Education established by section 2.3 of
this act.
Sec. 2.3. 1. There is hereby established the Subcommittee
on Interscholastic Activit ies of the Joint Interim Standing
Committee on Education, consisting of members appointed by the
Chair of the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education, who
must include:
(a) Two members of the Senate who are members of the Jo int
Interim Standing Committee on Education;
(b) Two members of the Assembly who are members of the
Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education;
(c) One member who is an elected member of the board of
trustees of a school district, appointed with appro priate regard for
his or her experience with and knowledge of matters relating to
interscholastic activities;
(d) One member who is the superintendent of schools of a
school district, who is recommended by the Nevada Association of
School Superintendents or its successor organization; and
(e) One member who is the parent or legal guardian of a pupil
who participates in interscholastic activities or events in this State.
2. The members who are Legislators must be appointed to
provide representation from the various geographical regions of
the State.
3. The Chair of the Joint Interim Standing Committee on
Education shall appoint a Chair of the Subcommittee from one
House and a Vice Chair of the Subcommittee from the other
House. Each Chair and Vice Cha ir holds office for a term of 2
years commencing on July 1 of each odd -numbered year. If a
vacancy occurs in the office of Chair or Vice Chair, the vacancy
must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for
the remainder of the unexpired term.
4. Any member of the Subcommittee described in paragraph
(a), (b) or (c) of subsection 1 who is not a candidate for reelection
or who is defeated for reelection continues to serve after the
general election until the next regular or special session convenes.
5. Vacancies on the Subcommittee must be filled in the same
manner as original appointments.
6. The Chair of the Joint Interim Standing Committee on
Education may appoint alternates for members of the
Subcommittee. The Chair of the Subcommittee:
(a) May designate an alternate appointed by the Chair of the
Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education to serve in place
of a regular member who is unable to attend a meeting; and
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(b) Shall, for a member who is a Legislator, designate a n
alternate appointed by the Chair of the Joint Interim Standing
Committee on Education who is a member of the same House and
political party as the regular member to serve in place of the
regular member if one is available.
Sec. 2.5. 1. Except as otherwise ordered by the Legislative
Commission, the members of the Subcommittee shall meet not
earlier than November 1 of each odd -numbered year and not later
than August 31 of the following even -numbered year at the times
and places specified by a call of the Chair of the Subcommittee or
a majority of the Subcommittee.
2. The Research Director of the Research Division of the
Legislative Counsel Bureau , or his or her designee, shall act as
the nonvoting recording Secretary for the Subcommittee.
3. The Subcommittee shall prescribe rules for its own
management and government.
4. A majority of the members of the Subcommittee constitutes
a quorum, and a quorum may exercise all the power and authority
conferred on the Subcommittee.
5. Except during a regular or special session, for each day or
portion of a day during which members of the Subcommittee who
are Legislators attend a meeting of the Subcommittee or are
otherwise engaged in the business of th e Subcommittee, the
members are entitled to receive:
(a) The compensation provided for a majority of the
Legislators during the first 60 days of the preceding regular
session;
(b) The per diem allowance provided for state officers and
employees generally; and
(c) The travel expenses provided pursuant to NRS 218A.655.
6. All such compensation, per diem allowances and travel
expenses of the members of the Subcommittee who are Legislators
must be paid from the Legislative Fund.
7. Each member of the S ubcommittee appointed pursuant to
paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection 1 of section 2.3 of this act is
entitled to receive the subsistence allowances and travel expenses
provided by law for his or her position for each day of attendance
at a meeting of the Subcommittee and while engaged in the
business of the Subcommittee, to be paid by the appropriate school
district.
Sec. 2.7. The Subcommittee may:
1. Review and comment on any action, activity or
administrative policy, rule or regulation of the Nevada
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Interscholastic Activities Association established pursuant to
NRS 385B.050;
2. Conduct investigations and hold hearings in connection
with its review, including, without limitation, investigating the
effect on the Stat e, its citizens and political subdivisions of those
policies, rules, regulations and related laws, and exercise any of
the investigative powers set forth in NRS 218E.105 to 218E.140,
inclusive;
3. Review interscholastic activities and events and
competitions in this State to ensure compliance with Title IX of the
Education Amendments Act of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.;
4. Consult with and advise the Department, the State Public
Charter School Authority, the Nevada Interscholastic Activities
Association and any school district on matters concerning
interscholastic activities and events;
5. Direct the Legislative Counsel Bureau to assist the
Subcommittee in its research, investigations, review and comment;
6. Submit any recommendations for legislat ion to the
Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the
Legislature;
7. Advise the Attorney General if the Subcommittee believes
that any policy, rule or regulation which it has reviewed
encroaches on the sovereignty respecting the a bility of the State to
govern interscholastic activities and events;
8. Apply for any available grants and accept any gifts, grants
or donations to assist the Subcommittee in carrying out its duties;
and
9. Review and comment on any other matter relati ng to
interscholastic activities and events deemed appropriate by the
Chair of the Subcommittee or by a majority of the members of the
Subcommittee.
Secs. 3 and 4. (Deleted by amendment.)
Sec. 5. The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association shall
adopt the regulations required by subsection 1 of section 2 of this
act not later than October 1, 2025.
Sec. 5.3. 1. The Nevada Interscholastic Activities
Association shall adopt:
(a) Regulations designating lacrosse as a sanctioned sport for
boys and as a sanctioned sport for girls beginning with the 2026 -
2027 school year; and
(b) All rules and regulations necessary for pupils to participate
in lacrosse as a sanctioned sport for boys and as a sanctioned sport
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for girls beginning with the 2026 -2027 school year, including,
without limitation, any rules and regulations necessary to:
(1) Determine the eligibility and participation of pupils in
lacrosse as a sanctioned sport;
(2) Prescribe the rules used in competition;
(3) Establish the length of a season and the date upon which
a school may begin practicing for a season;
(4) Establish guidelines for the safety of pupils that comply
with any regulations adopted pursuant to NRS 385B.080; and
(5) Prescribe any other guidelines necessary to govern
participation in lacrosse as a sanctioned sport.
2. Not later than the 20 bus iness days after the end of each
calendar quarter ending before January 1, 2027, the Nevada
Interscholastic Activities Association shall submit to the Director of
the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Joint Interim
Standing Committee on Edu cation a report on the progress of the
Association in the implementation of lacrosse as a sanctioned sport
for boys and as a sanctioned sport for girls, including, without
limitation, a summary of the actions taken by the Association during
the calendar quarter with regard to the implementation of lacrosse as
a sanctioned sport.
3. If the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association does not
adopt the regulations required by this section on or before May 1,
2026:
(a) The authority, power and duty to ado pt any rules or
regulations required by this section that have not been adopted by
the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association transfers to the
Nevada Association of School Superintendents; and
(b) Any rules or regulations adopted by the Nevada Asso ciation
of School Superintendents pursuant to paragraph (a) shall be
effective until such time as the Nevada Interscholastic Activities
Association amends such rules or regulations. The provisions of
chapter 233B of NRS governing the adoption of regulations apply to
any regulations adopted by the Nevada Association of School
Superintendents pursuant to this subsection.
(c) The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association shall
transfer to the Nevada Association of School Superintendents a
payment in the a mount of $25,000 for the purpose of defraying any
costs associated with adopting any regulations pursuant to this
subsection.
Sec. 5.7. 1. During the 2025 -2026 interim, the
Subcommittee on Interscholastic Activit ies of the Joint Interim
Standing Committee on Education shall conduct an interim study
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concerning the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association. The
study must include, without limitation, a comprehensive evaluation
of the finances, governing structure, processes, duties and powers of
the Association.
2. The Subcommittee shall include its finding and
recommendations for legislation relating to the study in the report
required by subsection 4 of NRS 218E.330 to be prepared and
submitted to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for
transmittal to the 84th Session of the Legislature.
Sec. 6. (Deleted by amendment.)
Sec. 6.5. The provisions of NRS 218D.380 do not apply to any
provision of this act which adds or revises a requirement to submit a
report to the Legislature.
Sec. 7. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.
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