- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,130,650
- Reaction score
- 59
A proposal that would have required the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association to make its records and audits public failed to advance Tuesday morning at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Senate Bill 2005 was rejected by the Senate Education Committee on a 6-4 vote.
The decision comes just weeks after Gov. Kevin Stitt called for the elimination of the OSSAA during his State of the State address Feb. 2.
"The Governor remains committed to his call to eliminate the OSSAA, and is confident reform will happen this year," Stitt's office told News 9 in a statement. "No student’s opportunity to participate should depend on whether their family can afford a lawyer. It’s disappointing that OSSAA would hire lobbyists to try and bar students from these opportunities.
"Governor Stitt is grateful to Speaker Kyle Hilbert for spotlighting the most recent appalling decisions by the OSSAA and urges the Legislature to deliver lasting reform that puts students and parents first."
More: OSSAA decisions on Oklahoma high school football independence deserve answers
The bill would have required the OSSAA to comply with the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.
“The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association appreciates the Oklahoma State Senate Education Committee’s actions today,” the OSSAA said in a statement. “We respect the committee’s thoughtful role and appreciate attention given to matters that directly affect students, schools and the governance of interscholastic activities across our state.”
The bill also would have required annual financial and compliance audits and would have created a new board structure with appointments made by the governor and legislative leaders.
Another bill has been filed by State Senator Casey Murdock to eliminate the OSSAA and instead create the Oklahoma Athletics and Activities Commission. That bill has not yet been heard in a committee.
“The OSSAA remains committed to working constructively with legislators as they evaluate policies impacting educational and extracurricular programs,” the statement read. “Our member schools value a collaborative approach, and we stand ready to provide information, context, and partnership to ensure that any future legislation supports competitive equity, student well-being, and the long-standing framework of school-led oversight in Oklahoma.”
Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @thejordancdavis. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Senate committee rejects bill for transparency from OSSAA
Continue reading...
Senate Bill 2005 was rejected by the Senate Education Committee on a 6-4 vote.
The decision comes just weeks after Gov. Kevin Stitt called for the elimination of the OSSAA during his State of the State address Feb. 2.
"The Governor remains committed to his call to eliminate the OSSAA, and is confident reform will happen this year," Stitt's office told News 9 in a statement. "No student’s opportunity to participate should depend on whether their family can afford a lawyer. It’s disappointing that OSSAA would hire lobbyists to try and bar students from these opportunities.
"Governor Stitt is grateful to Speaker Kyle Hilbert for spotlighting the most recent appalling decisions by the OSSAA and urges the Legislature to deliver lasting reform that puts students and parents first."
More: OSSAA decisions on Oklahoma high school football independence deserve answers
The bill would have required the OSSAA to comply with the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.
“The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association appreciates the Oklahoma State Senate Education Committee’s actions today,” the OSSAA said in a statement. “We respect the committee’s thoughtful role and appreciate attention given to matters that directly affect students, schools and the governance of interscholastic activities across our state.”
The bill also would have required annual financial and compliance audits and would have created a new board structure with appointments made by the governor and legislative leaders.
Another bill has been filed by State Senator Casey Murdock to eliminate the OSSAA and instead create the Oklahoma Athletics and Activities Commission. That bill has not yet been heard in a committee.
“The OSSAA remains committed to working constructively with legislators as they evaluate policies impacting educational and extracurricular programs,” the statement read. “Our member schools value a collaborative approach, and we stand ready to provide information, context, and partnership to ensure that any future legislation supports competitive equity, student well-being, and the long-standing framework of school-led oversight in Oklahoma.”
Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @thejordancdavis. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Senate committee rejects bill for transparency from OSSAA
Continue reading...
