NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 4/3/2015.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 15-051
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Todd, Heath, Hill, Merrifield, Cadman;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Priola, Fields, Mitsch Bush, Roupe, Salazar,
      Singer, Wilson.
      
      
      Concerning legal recourse for a student who is sanctioned or
           found ineligible to participate in an extracurricular
           activity.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-32-116.5, amend
      (9.5) (b) as follows:
      
           22-32-116.5.  Extracurricular and interscholastic activities -
      definitions. (9.5) (b)  A student who has completed the appeal process
      described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (9.5) may file a petition or
      complaint with a group of sitting or retired judges or other group of neutral
      arbitrators approved by the school, school district, or any organization or
      association to which the school or school district belongs. In rendering his
      or her decision, the judge or arbitrator shall consider whether any rule was
      properly applied to the student and whether a waiver of any rule should be
      granted. A final decision shall be rendered by the judge or arbitrator no later
      than thirty days after the filing of the petition or complaint and shall be
      binding on the student, the school, the school district, and any association
      or organization to which the school or school district belongs. Any cost
      associated with a judge or arbitrator shall be charged equally to the student
      and any association or organization to which the school or school district
      belong seek a preliminary injunction or restraining order from a
      court of competent jurisdiction.
      
           SECTION 2.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
      takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
      ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
      5, 2015, if adjournment sine die is on May 6, 2015); except that, if a
      referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state
      constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within
      such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless
      approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2016
      and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of
      the vote thereon by the governor.
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Bill L. Cadman                Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
      PRESIDENT OF                     SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Cindi L. Markwell                      Marilyn Eddins
      SECRETARY OF                 CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO