Senate subcommittee backs changes to governance and oversight of High School League

The Senate Education subcommittee voted to give bill 4163 a favorable report after adopting a committee amendment that reshapes the governing board of the South Carolina High School League and increases legislative oversight.

Donna Barton, research director for the committee, told members the bill would set a new composition for the association's executive board, including one superintendent, one principal and one athletic administrator from each of five classifications; two members appointed by the chairs of the House and Senate education committees who may not be employed by a member school or district; the state superintendent or designee; a middle-school representative and representatives from private and charter school members (each required to be a superintendent, principal or athletic director). Barton said the bill also would require the league to submit its annual budget to the General Assembly and appear before the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee and would subject the association to legislative oversight.

The bill places term limits on the executive committee chair (no more than two consecutive years), creates staggered terms for elected members and limits committee membership to no more than two consecutive three-year terms. It would also require the commissioner to file an annual statement of economic interest with the State Ethics Commission and restrict commissioner employment contracts to no more than three years without automatic renewal provisions.

Barton said the measure codifies many provisions currently in proviso and adds disciplinary and eligibility rules, including provisions prohibiting NIL compensation in interscholastic athletics and a limit that private-school participants may not exceed 10% of the roster on any single public-school team. The bill also would require uniform eligibility standards not to be more restrictive than those in effect on Jan. 1, 2020, and create an appeals process to a seven-member, disinterested appellate panel with members appointed from each congressional delegation.

Senator from Edgefield raised a pointed objection, saying the legislature risks "owning the problems going forward" if it inserts itself deeply into the league's governance and warned complaints could multiply if government control increased. The chair responded that much of the proposal simply codifies existing proviso language and described legislative appointments as a check to "keep an eye on things." After discussion the committee adopted the committee amendment and voted the bill a favorable report.

The subcommittee's action sends bill 4163 to the full Senate for further consideration.