A bill to reform punishments for high school athletes if the team breaks eligibility rules passed out of the state House on Wednesday.
The proposal, introduced by state Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, would ease penalties the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association imposes on students when a rule violation is made by an adult, such as a coach or administrator. The bill was prompted by events at King’s Way Christian School in Vancouver, where a scheduling error made by an administrator disqualified the undefeated girls’ volleyball team from playing in the state tournament last year.
The bill passed in the Senate 45-1 and in the House 67-31. The measure goes back to the Senate for concurrence.
