Committee approves AB 932 to require equitable access for girls at school club facilities; forwards bill to judiciary

Assemblymember Erwin told the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee on April 8 that AB 932 would increase access and equity for girls in youth athletics by closing a gap in state law that currently covers school-sponsored teams but not private clubs that rent school facilities.

“Current law prohibits gender-based discrimination by counties and special districts at school and park facilities,” Erwin said, and AB 932 would extend equitable access requirements to third-party clubs that rent local education agency facilities. The author and witnesses described examples in which girls’ club teams lost practice time or were charged higher fees when facilities were rented, citing a Davis incident where the girls’ softball or basketball club alleged unequal field access and fees compared with boys’ teams.

David Shapira, who identified himself as a father and coach of a Davis girls’ basketball club and as serving in a staff role at the California Department of Education, told the committee that one coach’s early booking of online gym reservations left multiple girls’ teams without practice time. “One coach got in there, took all of our gym time, and it was going to result in our entire season for six teams for 74 athletes being canceled because there was just no other place for us to practice,” Shapira said.

Supporters included the California Teachers Association. Several assemblymembers expressed support for the policy goal; members offered to coauthor the bill and emphasized the economic and developmental benefits of girls’ sports.

Opposition testimony centered on concerns about Title IX and related federal enforcement. An attorney identified in the transcript as Erin Friday argued the bill could risk federal funding if it conflicts with Title IX interpretations, and other speakers raised issues about gender identity language in the bill as presented to the committee. Remarks from opponents included warnings about potential federal scrutiny; the chair interrupted some testimony to keep remarks focused on the bill’s merits.

The committee voted to pass AB 932 as amended to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The chair reported the measure passed out of committee by a 6-0 recorded vote with three members not voting. The author accepted committee clarifying amendments during the hearing and said the bill’s intent is to ensure equitable field and facility access for girls who participate in club sports.

If implemented as described by supporters, the bill would require local education agencies that rent facilities to third-party sports clubs to make rental decisions on an equitable basis with respect to gender, closing a statutory gap supporters said currently disadvantages some girls’ clubs.

The bill now moves to the Assembly Judiciary Committee for further review.