Breaking News: NM Governor signs Sports Equity Bill into law

As the Women’s Sports Foundation discovered there are educational, social and health benefits for girls who participate in sports.   The Foundation found that by participating in sports, female athletes have a better chance to:

• graduate from high school,
• lower the odds of teen pregnancy,
• delay their sexual activity,
• not use drugs, and
• reduce smoking.

In addition to all these excellent benefits, participation in sports promotes regular exercise that may reduce the risk of breast cancer, the most common form of cancer among women.  Regular participation in physical activity during childhood and adolescence also helps control weight, build muscle and reduce fat.  Research shows that physical activity helps to reduce girls’ and women’s risk for cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death among American women.  High school sports participation may even help prevent osteoporosis, because women who participated in high school sports have higher bone density than those who did not.

These are more than enough reasons to promote girl’s continued participation in high school and college athletics programs. 

On January 29, 2009, State Representative Danice Picraux introduced House Bill 432, the School Athletics Equity Act.  She introduced the Bill to be a supplement to Federal Public Law 92-318, AKA Title XI.  Title XI was passed in 1972 to ensure equality in sports throughout high school and collegiate athletics.  

The law states that, "No person in the United States shall judge on the basis of sex, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."  Athletics has become the most public face of Title XI, but the law also refers to equality in subjects like math and sciences, and even college dorm assignments. 

Many students today aren’t even aware that gender inequities exist or existed in athletics.  What Representative Picraux and the Southwest Women’s Law Center found was that injustices still existed in the state and worked hard to remedy the situation. 

The bill was unanimously passed the House after many female representatives recalled their own memories of sports inequality, such as running track in a city park while the boys used the school track and joining cheerleading because that was the only activity for girls.

“The House and the Senate have demonstrated that New Mexico speaks with one clear voice when it comes to equal opportunity for our student athletes.  The message is clear –we want to give girls and boys in our state the chance to get in the game and experience the life-changing benefits of sports,” says Representative Picraux.

Marking an historic step forward for New Mexico’s girls, Governor Bill Richardson signed the School Athletics Equity Act into law on April 7, 2009.  Aimed at ensuring that public high schools and middle schools are adhering to federal law by providing equal athletics opportunities for boys and girls.  With ongoing federal probes into alleged inequities between boys and girls sports programs in both Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, advocates say the bill is both timely and sorely needed.   
 
“The purpose of HB 432 is to prevent inequities in our education system by providing parents and local communities with the information they need to make sure our girls are being treated fairly.  The Governor’s signature means that girls across the state will benefit from the amazing impact that sports can have,” notes Jessica Aranda of the Southwest Women’s Law Center.  “…making sure our girls have as much of a chance to play as our boys should be a top priority in New Mexico.”
 
Aranda also notes that HB 432 is designed to save schools money.  “Before, the only thing for parents who were concerned about discrimination in their athletics programs could do was file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights.  This is not only a long, arduous process for the families, it’s also expensive for the schools,” she says.  “The investigations that result from OCR complaints can take months, all the while running up the tax payer’ tab in staff time, legal fees, and production of documents,” explains Aranda.  “By passing HB 432 and creating more transparency and local control, we are confident that more schools will be compliant with federal law and issues can be resolved on the ground before a complaint compels the feds to get involved.”
 
This bill requires all federally funded schools, K-12, to complete a report about sports facilities, gender participation and instruction. The state Public Education Department would compile the information and provide it to schools to help them evaluate, whether they're complying with the 1972 law.

The most recent investigations began in 2007 in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque.

In Albuquerque, a Manzano High School softball player alleged the school kept up the boy's baseball field better than the girl's softball field.  The player also alleged the coach retaliated against her after she complained about inequality.  In Rio Rancho, the complaint alleged inadequate facilities and support, such as staff and training, for female athletes.

Neither case has concluded.

This new law will hopefully not only prevent incidents that have happened around New Mexico, in this decade amazingly, but will provide all our children a chance for fairness in athletics departments.  If participation in athletics can help keep our kids out of trouble and on the straight and narrow, it’s our responsibility as good citizens to do all we can to make this happen.