North Carolina Senate aims for vote on replacing NCHSAA. What do we know now?

In less than 48 hours, the state of North Carolina high school athletics has gone from the quietest week of the summer to a maelstrom of voices debating its future

Following two discussion sessions in its Education and Higher Education committee, and another discussion in the Finance committee on Thursday, the North Carolina Senate is advancing a dynamic, uncommon bill that would create a new era of oversight for public school-sponsored sports. 

House Bill 91, a bill originally about improving regulations to help children with autism, has been completely altered and renamed the “Accountability and Fair Play in Athletics” bill.  

If it clears future hurdles to become a law, it would end a century-old relationship with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA). 

Here’s what has happened, and what could change under a new North Carolina Interscholastic Athletic Commission. 

What would the new N.C. high school sports organization look like? 

The bill would create a new organization to administer the rules and regulations for high school and middle school athletics in North Carolina, falling under the State Board of Education. 

In short, many of its initial definitions mimic those of the NCHSAA. 

However, the 17 commission members would be chosen by the governor, the House speaker and the Senate president pro tem for four-year terms. The NCHSAA picks its members with no political affiliation.

Each member of the new Interscholastic Athletic Commission would be picked from a similar pool of candidates that include school administrators and coaches. 

In addition, the State Board of Education would set all rules and regulations for athlete eligibility in a new organization. Currently, the NCHSAA follows most state guidelines, but also has its own set of rules on some issues, including those for participation by transgender students.   

The NCHSAA was previously aligned with the University of North Carolina, but that relationship ended in 2010. It is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit. 

What’s up with the money situation? 

The senators who spoke for the bill said the NCHSAA’s fee and fine structure is a significant concern -- that schools are paying far more to the NCHSAA than they receive in return.  

Sen. Todd Johnson (R-Union County) said multiple times that some schools have students playing in the same uniforms as their parents, who would have worn them more than two decades ago. 

Johnson, Sen. Tom McInnis (R-Anson, Moore, Richmond, Scotland) and Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell, Yadkin) stated Tuesday and Wednesday that, under the new organization, more money would be directed to schools for equipment and uniforms. They also frequently criticized the NCHSAA’s more than $40 million in assets, the highest total for a high school association in the United States. 

The new bill does not yet outline a potential fee structure.  

With the NCHSAA, schools pay a $100 annual fee plus $1 for every student in the school. It also makes money off state playoff games, sponsorships for state championships and licensing rights for events relayed online. In addition, schools can add one game to their regular season in most sports, but 25% of the gate receipts from that contest are given to the NCHSAA for its endowment fund.

The organization also pays money to schools for playoff appearances.

"We don't send any money from tickets during (the) regular season. Only percentages after our expenses during playoffs," said Kelly Lewis, athletic director at Ashley High School in Wilmington. "Playoff reimbursement is based on a lot of factors so it can vary widely from school to school." 

“The benefits that we get back, they kind of pay for themselves,” George Robinson, athletic director for the Alamance-Burlington School System, said late Wednesday. “I know the association, if we were in a situation that required dire straits, they would be willing to help out. So, I'm not sure if we get it all back, but we know is going to a good cause." 

In addition, the NCHSAA assesses fines to schools for other issues, including coaches who have not completed required training and athletes who have been ejected from contests. 

Is there bipartisan support for House Bill 91? 

As of right now, it appears that is not the case.  

While Johnson said he spoke with numerous coaches, athletic directors and administrators over the past 22 months in helping draft this bill, comments from other senators in Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s hearings went along political lines.  

Support came from several Republican members, including Sen. Michael Lazarra (Jones-Onslow) and Sen. Amy Galey (Alamance-Guilford). The most pointed questions came from Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, a Democrat from Wake County. 

“Is the athletic association perfect? Absolutely not. I think we’ve shed light on that. Is it worth a complete dissolution? No.” He later stated, “this proposal brings an axe to the athletic association.” 

In addition, both the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association and North Carolina Coaches’ Association released statements saying they were in full support of the NCHSAA and not the new organization.  

And coaches and administrators across the state — many of whom are using this week for statewide meetings and conventions — took to social media to denounce the move. 

“I don’t know of any organization involved with athletics that’s in favor of this,” Donald Palmer, athletic director at Ledford High School in Thomasville, said Wednesday afternoon. 

What happens next with House Bill 91? 

The Senate Finance committee discussed and approved the bill Thursday morning. 

With approval from that committee, it now goes to the Senate Rules Committee before being brought to a vote. It still requires passage through both the full Senate and the House of Representatives. Then Gov. Roy Cooper would make a decision if it reaches his desk.  

The timing of this debate is tough for athletes and administrators. 

The first official practice for fall sports is Monday, Aug. 2, with first contests allowed on Aug. 16. If it becomes law, the bill stipulates that the NCHSAA could continue in its role through the 2021-22 academic year if it agrees to discontinue all financial penalties for rules violations. 

USA TODAY Network reporters Michael Duprez, Jackson Fuller and David Kehrli, and the Associated Press, contributed to this report.

Dan Spears is the sports editor for the Wilmington StarNews, and Southeast Regional sports editor for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at Dan.Spears@StarNewsOnline.com or on Twitter @DanSpears.