To enact section 3313.538 of the Revised Code to prohibit disqualification of certain students from interscholastic athletics if a student's resident school district ceases, then resumes, its interscholastic athletics program.

Section 1. That section 3313.538 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 3313.538. (A) As used in this section, "resident school district" means the city, exempted village, or local school district in which a student is entitled to attend school under section 3313.64 or 3313.65 of the Revised Code.

(B) No student who transfers from a school that is not operated by the student's resident school district to a school operated by that district shall be prohibited from participating in interscholastic athletics at the school operated by the student's resident school district, solely on the basis of the transfer, if all of the following apply:

(1) The student's resident school district ceases or has ceased its entire interscholastic athletics program.

(2) At the time or after the resident school district ceased its entire interscholastic athletics program, the student transferred from a school operated by the student's resident school district to a school that is not operated by the student's resident school district.

(3) The student's resident school district resumes interscholastic athletics and the student subsequently transfers from the school that is not operated by that district to a school operated by that district.

(C) No school district, school, interscholastic conference, or organization that regulates interscholastic conferences or events shall do any of the following with respect to any student who meets the conditions of division (B) of this section:

(1) Impose a waiting period to participate in interscholastic athletics after the student transfers back to the student's resident school district, based solely on the student's transfer back;

(2) Restrict which sports the student may play at the school operated by the student's resident school district after the student transfers back to the student's resident school district, based solely on which sports the student played before transferring back;

(3) Establish a deadline for a student to transfer back to the student's resident school district to maintain athletic eligibility.

Division (C)(3) of this section does not prohibit the school to which a student transfers under division (B)(3) of this section from imposing a deadline to apply or try out to participate in a particular sport for a particular season.

(D) An organization that regulates interscholastic conferences or events may require a student to apply for and receive the organization's verification of the student's eligibility under this section before participating in interscholastic athletics.

(E) No school district, school, interscholastic conference, or organization that regulates interscholastic conferences or events shall have a rule, bylaw, or other regulation that conflicts with this section.