On Wednesday, the Committee I chair, the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, held a public hearing on Assembly Bill 378, The Saving Women’s Sport’s Act.
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that was enacted in 1972 to recognize the biological distinction between men and women, and the need to assure women and girls are not discriminated against in educational programs or activities. It codified equal opportunities to compete on a level playing field in sports.
The Save Women’s Sports Act is based on that biological science. It safeguards equality and protects the athletic excellence of girls and women competing in sports, while also upholding Title IX’s original intent based on the biological distinction between men and women athletes. Additionally, AB 378 assures all athletes – male, female, and non-binary are in a category that provides them the greatest desired safety as well as the opportunity to perform on a level, competitive playing field.
In a Marquette University Law School Poll released on March 29, 2023, 71% of respondents say athletes should be required to participate on teams that match the gender they were assigned at birth, while 28% oppose that requirement. Additionally, this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, to protect female athletes and the integrity of women’s sports.
These bills afford three categories of sports competition based on person’s biological sex, with an additional co-ed category allowing everyone to participate. This assures inclusion while also protecting safety.
Assembly Bill 378 would require each school board, independent charter school, and private school participating in a parental choice program that operates or sponsors an interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic team or sport, to designate the athletic team or sport as falling into one of three categories: female, male, or co-ed. In addition, K-12 schools would be required to inform the parents of students or student athletes prior to changing a sport from one category to another.
The bill would also require the University of Wisconsin System and technical college system to designate teams based on one of these three categories as well.
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