Subchapter III. District of Columbia State Athletics Association.

§ 38–2661.21. District of Columbia State Athletic Association; reorganization.

(a)(1) The District of Columbia State Athletic Association shall be established as an office under the direction and control of the Commission.

(2)(A) By October 1, 2018, but not before the first meeting of the Commission, the Mayor shall transfer to the DCSAA within the Commission such positions, personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds available or assigned to the District of Columbia State Athletic Association or the State Athletic Office within OSSE, at which time such subordinate offices within OSSE shall be abolished.

(B) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as obligating the Commission or the DCSAA to employ personnel transferred pursuant to this paragraph for any period of time.

(3) All rules, orders, obligations, determinations, grants, contracts, licenses, and agreements of the OSSE relating to functions transferred to the DCSAA pursuant to this section shall remain in effect according to their terms until lawfully amended, repealed, or modified.

(b)(1) The Executive Director of the Commission shall serve as Director of the DCSAA.

(2) Subject to the direction and supervision of the Commission, the Director of the DCSAA shall:

(A) Manage the budget and operations of the DCSAA in a manner that reflects DCSAA's mission;

(B) Provide administrative support to the Commission;

(D) Employ a General Counsel, who shall serve as chief legal advisor to the DCSAA, and such other subordinate staff consistent with the needs and budget of the DCSAA; and

(E) Regularly report on the DCSAA's activities to the Commission.

(3) The Executive Director of the Commission shall not serve as a voting or ex-officio member of the Commission or on an athletic appeals panel.

§ 38–2661.22. District of Columbia State Athletic Association; purpose; mission; duties.

(a) The purpose of the DCSAA is to provide leadership and support for interscholastic athletics programs in the District.

(b) The mission of the DCSAA is to:

(1) Ensure that interscholastic athletics programs are compatible with the educational mission of member schools;

(2) Provide for fair competition between member schools;

(3) Promote sportsmanship and ethical behavior for participants, coaches, administrators, officials, and spectators;

(4) Promote gender equity and equal access to athletic opportunity; and

(5) Protect the physical well-being of participants and promote healthy adolescent lifestyles.

(1) Support the duties of the Commission;

(2) Set and enforce membership standards; provided, that such standards shall be consistent with existing District laws and regulations;

(3) Certify member schools' coaches and event officials;

(4) Possess exclusive jurisdiction over the implementation and enforcement of the Mayor's rules and regulations governing the conduct of interscholastic athletics programs, including regulations related to participant eligibility; provided, that nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed as limiting or affecting the power of the Commission to issue a final decision on an appeal to an appeals panel;

(5) Ensure member school compliance with applicable District laws and regulations related to participant health and safety;

(6) Develop and offer training guidance on the health, safety, and wellness of participants pursuant to national best practices;

(7) Sanction competitions and establish seasons for DCSAA-sponsored sports;

(8) Enforce Chapter 8C of this title;

(9) Annually publish and distribute a handbook containing the playing rules, codes of conduct, sanctions, and guidelines for every DCSAA-sponsored sport; provided, that except as otherwise approved by the Commission, the DCSAA handbook shall incorporate the playing rules, codes of conduct, sanctions, and guidelines contained in the National Federation of State High School Associations' ("NFHS") Rules Books;

(10) Except as otherwise provided by law or regulation, hear and decide complaints as authorized in § 38-2661.26

(11) Administer the State Athletic Activities, Programs, and Office Fund established by § 38-2672; and

(12) Take actions consistent with the responsibilities outlined in this subsection, DCSAA's mission, and governing laws and regulations.

§ 38–2661.23. District of Columbia State Athletic Association; membership.

(a) All schools in the DCPS system with an interscholastic athletics program serving grades 9 to 12 shall be members of DCSAA and subject to its membership standards.

(b) A public charter, parochial, or private school in the District with an interscholastic athletics program serving grades 9 to 12 that agrees to abide by DCSAA's membership standards and applicable District laws and regulations governing interscholastic athletics programs may become a DCSAA member and shall be subject to its membership standards.

(c) The DCSAA shall develop and offer training guidance on District regulations necessary to achieve or maintain membership.

§ 38–2661.24. District of Columbia State Athletic Association; coach and event official qualifications.

(a) The DCSAA shall administer knowledge examinations for coaches and event officials of each DCSAA-sponsored sport no less than 4 times each year.

(b)(1) To qualify as a coach or event official for a DCSAA-sponsored sport, an individual shall have passed a DCSAA-administered knowledge examination for the sport in the last 5 years or demonstrate knowledge of the sport sufficient for DCSAA to waive the examination requirement.

(2) Knowledge exams shall be based on the National Federation of State High School Associations' sports knowledge exams.

(c) The DCSAA shall collect and maintain records related to the certification and qualifications of member schools' coaches and event officials.

§ 38–2661.25. District of Columbia State Athletic Association; participant eligibility documentation.

(a) The DCSAA shall collect and maintain from member schools:

(1) Participant eligibility lists;

(2) Waivers of participant eligibility;

(3) Member school or LEA decisions on participant eligibility;

(4) Documentation of penalties a member school or LEA has imposed for eligibility violations; and

(5) Policies on participant eligibility, the eligibility decision-making process, and penalties for eligibility violations.

(b) The DCSAA shall issue guidance to member schools on best practices for participant eligibility policies, decision-making, and record-keeping.

§ 38–2661.26. District of Columbia State Athletic Association; complaint resolution.

(a) The DCSAA shall hear and decide complaints:

(1) Related to its membership standards;

(2) Arising under the DCSAA handbook; or

(3) Related to participant eligibility arising between a DCPS and non-DCPS member school participating in a DCSAA-sanctioned competition or arising between a member school and non-member school participating in a DCSAA-sanctioned competition.

(b) The parties to a complaint shall comply with DCSAA requests for information related to the allegations in the complaint.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing the DCSAA to hear or decide:

(1) Appeals from participant eligibility decisions issued by a member school or LEA; or

(2) Complaints wherein the parties have failed to exhaust existing administrative remedies.

(e) A party may appeal a DCSAA decision issued under this section to an athletic appeals panel.