HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1250

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to athletic leadership positions for women.

Brief Description:  Establishing an information clearinghouse for recruiting women in athletic leadership positions.

Sponsors:  Representatives J. Kohl, Miller, Ogden, Brough, Jacobsen, Pruitt, Quall, Cothern, Jones and Leonard.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Higher Education, February 16, 1993, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 16 members:  Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Quall, Vice Chair; Brumsickle, Ranking Minority Member; Sheahan, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Bray; Carlson; Casada; Flemming; Kessler; J. Kohl; Ogden; Orr; Rayburn; Shin; and Wood.

Staff:  Marilee Scarbrough (786-7196).

Background:  According to a recent report by the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports (NAGWS), since the implementation of Title IX in 1976, there has been a dramatic increase in opportunities for girls and women to participate as athletes.  The past 10 years, however, has shown a dramatic decrease in the number of women coaches, athletic administrators, and sports officials.  The participation of girls in sports has increased from 300,000 girls in high school in 1970-72, to 1.8 million participating in 1983-84.  Concurrently, there has been a rapid decline in the number of women coaches at both levels, from 70-100 percent down to 40 percent.  Title IX was designed to provide equal opportunity for both sexes within an educational environment.  Specifically, Title IX was to deal with equal athletic opportunities for girls and women.

The NAGWS stated four principles for understanding and rectifying the lack of women in leadership positions of coach, official trainer, sports information director and administrator:  (1) women have been discriminated against (intentionally and unintentionally) in the hiring of athletic coaches, officials, trainers, sports information directors, and administrators; (2) there are women who are capable and qualified to hold athletic leadership positions; (3) all girls and women will benefit by having role models of women successfully holding athletic leadership positions; and (4) the lack of women in athletic leadership positions affects the role that women are able to play on rules committees, national governing bodies, and within the NCAA, NAIA, the high school federations, NJCAA, and USOC.

The NAGWS listed several recommendations for increasing the number of women in athletic leadership positions.  The recommendations included:  (1) encouraging women to enroll in coaching courses, administration courses, officiating courses and in athletic training programs in college; (2) willingness to spend the extra time it takes to work with and teach young women who are interested in learning about coaching, athletic training, officiating, and athletic administration; (3) internships for students interested in coaching, athletic training, officiating, and athletic administration; (4) hiring women officials for conference and non-conference games; (5) hiring women as assistant coaches and athletic trainers, especially if the head coach or trainer is male; and (6) involving and encouraging women to develop networks among women coaches, officials, sports information directors and athletic trainers.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges shall establish an information clearinghouse for recruiting women as coaches, assistant coaches, athletic directors and athletic administrators.  The clearinghouse will:  (1) collect information on coaching vacancies; (2) collect and provide information on qualified women candidates; (3) publish vacancy notices to women candidates; and (4) coordinate the dissemination of information between women candidates, schools, coaches and athletic associations.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges will consult with four-year institutions, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Council of Presidents, athletic associations and community sports groups in establishing the clearinghouse.  The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges may contract with a private association to provide the clearinghouse service and charge an administrative fee.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges shall submit an annual report to the legislature indicating:  (1) the athletic leadership opportunities for women in Washington State; (2) a summary of activities of the clearinghouse for the preceding year; (3) recommendations for improving dissemination of information to girls and women regarding athletic leadership positions; and (4) recommendations for increasing opportunities for girls and women in athletic leadership positions.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The amended bill clarifies that the clearinghouse is a resource available to employers, however, employers are not required to select employees from the clearinghouse.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The number of women in sports has increased dramatically.  However, the number of women as coaches and athletic directors has declined.  It is important for young women and men to have women in positions as coaches, athletic directors and sports administrators.  The legislation will expand the opportunity for women to participate as coaches.  The clearinghouse should be expanded beyond just women.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  (in favor) Cliff Gillies, Washington Interscholastics Activities Association; Ed Laulainey, Washington State Coaches Association; Charolette York, Olympic College; and F. Sandy Neeley, Everett Community College.