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Committee advances bill to track student-athletes’ NCAA eligibility and support career transitions
Summary
House Bill 567 would create a system to track student-athletes from ninth grade, identify students off track by the end of 10th grade, and connect them with counselors, athletic directors or career coaches; the committee gave the bill a favorable report following testimony about an existing database and staffing concerns.
The Education Policy Committee gave House Bill 567 a favorable report after proponents described a tracking system to monitor student-athletes’ academic standing and to guide students into college, two-year programs, military service or workforce pathways.
Representative Gray, sponsor of HB 567, described the measure as a "Student Athlete Eligibility and Career Transition Act" that would create a tracking mechanism to alert schools and counselors when a student is off target for NCAA eligibility and to help plan alternate career or educational paths. Dewan Walker, who spoke as a proponent and who attended with student voices from A+, told the committee, "At the end of their 10th grade year, we will now know exactly where that student is," describing how the system could identify students who need intervention or alternative transition plans.
Committee members asked whether the bill would require new staff. Representative Daniels said a database already exists to do the bulk of the tracking and that the work would be "minimal," requiring only a designated staff member to administer and verify records. Members voiced concern about counselors' heavy caseloads and whether athletic directors or career coaches would absorb the duties; proponents said the bill anticipates using existing staff where possible and relying on automated data pulls.
The bill specifies that designated staff—"such as a guidance counselor or athletic director"—would oversee and report NCAA-tracking progress for each student athlete, and the sponsor emphasized the bill is intended to help students who will not sign Division I scholarships by redirecting them to career pathways or two-year programs.
The committee approved a motion to give HB 567 a favorable report; the bill will move to the legislative floor for additional consideration.
