HOUSE BILL 6
Summary of House Bill 6
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SPONSOR(S)
Rep. Jena Powell (District 80) TARGETS Trans, non-binary, and gender diverse students K-12 school athletic programs College and university athletic programs Ohio High School Athletic Association DESCRIPTION Requires schools, colleges, and universities to establish separate single-sex athletic teams for females and males; bans males from participating on female teams; allows civil actions for violations |
COMMITTEE
House Higher Education Committee INTRODUCED February 15, 2023 TESTIMONY Read Testimony | Watch Hearings BILL General Info | As-Written | Analysis Sponsor Testimony |
What does House Bill 6 do?
Requires schools, colleges, and universities participating in athletic competitions or events to create separate, single-sex sports teams. This would impact any competition or event administered by a regulating interscholastic athletic conference, national collegiate athletics association, national association of intercollegiate athletics, or national junior college association.
Schools, colleges, and universities must:
PENALTIES
Allows student athletes who suffered harm resulting from a violation of the bill to take action against the school, school district, interscholastic conference, or organization that regulates interscholastic athletics
Allows schools, state institutions, or private colleges that suffered harm resulting from a violation of the bill to take action against the agency, political subdivision, accrediting organization, or athletic association that violates that division
Requires civil action resulting from a violation of the bill to be initiated within two years of the violation
Prohibits agencies, businesses, or other organizations in the state from taking action against the school for complying with the team structure
Schools, colleges, and universities must:
- Create separate teams for "participants of the female sex within female sports divisions"
- Create separate teams for "participants of the male sex within male sports divisions"
- Create co-ed teams for female and male students within co-ed sports divisions
- Prohibit "individuals of the male sex to participate on athletic teams or in athletic competitions designated only for participants of the female sex"
- Allow any student to participate on male and co-ed teams
PENALTIES
Allows student athletes who suffered harm resulting from a violation of the bill to take action against the school, school district, interscholastic conference, or organization that regulates interscholastic athletics
Allows schools, state institutions, or private colleges that suffered harm resulting from a violation of the bill to take action against the agency, political subdivision, accrediting organization, or athletic association that violates that division
Requires civil action resulting from a violation of the bill to be initiated within two years of the violation
Prohibits agencies, businesses, or other organizations in the state from taking action against the school for complying with the team structure
What is our position on House Bill 6?
OPPOSE
HB 6 singles out some students for different treatment. This Act targets transgender girls and women students for increased bullying and harassment by preventing them from participating in the sports they love.
HB 6 will have a devastating effect on the LGBTQ+ Community. Sports are for everyone, and many adult athletes share how participating in school sports helped them develop leadership, confidence, and social connections. Denying this type of youth development to only some students is discriminatory, and demonstrates to Ohio's youngest citizens that not all people are treated equally.
HB 6 is unnecessary. The Ohio High School Athletic Association and the NCAA have had policies governing student athletics for years that ensure a fair and accessible experience for every student. This bill reverses that history of equitable access, and replaces it with discrimination and bullying. Not one Ohio student athlete has testified as to how this bill would be good for them and their experience, but many Ohio student athletes have testified to the negative impacts it will have on them, their teams, and their schools.
HB 6 will have a devastating effect on the LGBTQ+ Community. Sports are for everyone, and many adult athletes share how participating in school sports helped them develop leadership, confidence, and social connections. Denying this type of youth development to only some students is discriminatory, and demonstrates to Ohio's youngest citizens that not all people are treated equally.
HB 6 is unnecessary. The Ohio High School Athletic Association and the NCAA have had policies governing student athletics for years that ensure a fair and accessible experience for every student. This bill reverses that history of equitable access, and replaces it with discrimination and bullying. Not one Ohio student athlete has testified as to how this bill would be good for them and their experience, but many Ohio student athletes have testified to the negative impacts it will have on them, their teams, and their schools.
TAKE ACTION
HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY
**DO NOT SEND TESTIMONY UNTIL THE APPROPRIATE HEARING IS ANNOUNCED**
STEP 1:
PREPARE YOUR TESTIMONY
Read tips for preparing and submitting testimony HERE
STEP 2:
EMAIL TESTIMONY DOCUMENTS TO COMMITTEE
Email a PDF of your testimony & this completed Witness Slip to
rep37@ohiohouse.gov
**IMPORTANT**
Do NOT send your testimony until the appropriate hearing is announced.
You must submit your testimony 24 hours ahead of the scheduled hearing.
Indicate in your email that you are submitting opposition testimony this bill and ask for a confirmation of receipt.
All testimony will be uploaded HERE
STEP 3:
ARRIVE EARLY FOR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY
Arrive at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled hearing
There is convenient parking in the Statehouse Parking Garage
Sign in on the witness roster in the hearing room