TEXAS UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE UNDERGOES THE SUNSET REVIEW PROCESS
Over the past few weeks, I have written about a number of state agencies that are undergoing the sunset review process. As a reminder, this is the process in which the state has to identify and eliminate government waste, duplication and general inefficiencies in state agencies. The Texas Legislature established the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission in 1977. The sunset review process is designed to review each of the state agencies every twelve years. This review is done by taking up a certain number of the state agencies each time the Texas Legislature convenes. In this week’s article, we are going to review the Texas University Interscholastic League.
The Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) was established over a century ago by the University of Texas at Austin to help organize interscholastic academic and athletic related competitions for both primary, as well as secondary schools. Today, the UIL still operates as a part of the university and it has now grown into the largest organization of its kind. In fact, the UIL today has over two million students that participate in the organization’s activities each year. With the exception of funding for steroid testing, the UIL manages to operate without state funding and receives no state appropriations. Additionally, they are governed by a Legislative Council that is made up of school administrators that are mostly member-elected. Though they are a very large organization, they are not the only opportunity for students to participate in extracurricular type activities. In fact, the courts have ruled that participating in these extracurricular activities is not in fact a right but rather a privilege.
In the 83rd Texas Legislative Session, the legislature placed the UIL under the Sunset Review Process for the first time in 20 years. Though it will be going through sunset review, the organization will not be subjected to abolishment. One of the things that the UIL has struggled with is trying to clearly identify what they do as an organization. Today, there are many misconceptions from the various UIL participants, stakeholders, and even the legislature about their structure and the status as a state agency. The review focused on working to try and clarify the UIL’s situation within the higher education system and it seeks to make its operations more understandable and also transparent. This process will focus on trying to help improve the accountability to the member schools, participants, as well as the general public.
In a summary put together by the Texas University Interscholastic League, the organization found various opportunities to help streamline itself. Throughout the process, they were able to identify some alternative operational changes that could be considered. After reviewing these potential changes, they concluded their report by recognizing that it would not have a significant enough impact to justify a structural change within the agency. In addition, they also found that the UIL would in fact be able to exist on its own as a private nonprofit association such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association. If the UIL did indeed move toward a private nonprofit status, the Texas Legislature and the University of Texas would lose all oversight that they currently have over the organization. Alternatively, the report also recognized that the UIL may be a strong fit to join the Texas Education Agency.
If you are interested in learning more visit the University Interscholastic League
Some of the other agencies we will review in the upcoming weeks include the Texas Education Agency, Texas Facilities Commission, Texas Workforce Commission, as well as a number of other agencies. If you would like to learn more go to the Sunset Advisory Commission
If you have any questions regarding the Texas University Interscholastic League or the sunset review process, please don’t hesitate to contact either my Capitol or District office. My offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
