Subchapter E - Legislative Council

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Section 25: LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

(a) COMPOSITION.

The Legislative Council is the legislative body of the UIL and is composed of one member elected for a four-year term from each basketball region within each conference and eight members, two from each of the four UIL regions, appointed for four-year terms by the chair of the Legislative Council. The selection of appointed members shall reflect a sensitivity to ethnicity, gender and student population size of district. The term of a member begins on June 1 following the election or appointment.

(b) ELIGIBLE PERSONS.

To be eligible for election or appointment to the Legislative Council, a person must be a superintendent or assistant superintendent of a member school district or school, or principal of a member school within a member school district or school.

(c) ELECTION.

(1) Nominations. In odd years the Executive Director shall send or otherwise make available electronically or online nomination forms to the superintendent of each member school district before January 15. The superintendent may make one nomination for each member high school in the school district by submitting a nomination form to the Executive Director before January 31.

(2) Top Two Nominees. As of February 5, the Executive Director shall determine which two persons received the greatest number of nominations in each basketball region. Absent a tie, the two persons receiving the most nominations in each basketball region shall be placed on the ballot per part (3), below. Any ties between persons receiving the most nominations shall be broken by vote on the ballot.

(3) Ballot. The Executive Director shall send to the superintendent of each member school district for each member high school in the district one ballot. Absent any ties, the two nominees shall be listed on the ballot. On behalf of the school district, the superintendent may cast one vote per ballot for a nominee on behalf of each member high school in the district. The ballot must be received by the UIL office before March 1 to be counted.

(4) Ballot Tally. On March 5 the chair of the State Executive Committee and the Executive Director, or their designees, shall tally the ballots and determine who is elected in each basketball region conducting an election. In cases of a tie, the Executive Director shall determine the outcome by lot. 

(5) Results. The Executive Director shall publish the results of the election and before March 15 inform the person elected. The person elected shall promptly inform the Executive Director concerning his or her willingness to serve.

(6) Validation. To be valid a nomination and ballot must be signed by the superintendent of the member school district. The Executive Director shall take custody of the nomination forms and ballots and retain them for a period of time consistent with The University of Texas at Austin’s retention policy but in any event for at least one year and, subject to state law, may not permit examination of them by any person, unless expressly authorized to do so by the State Executive Committee to determine an election contest.

(7) Even Year Elections. In even numbered years this schedule shall be altered to begin the election process as soon as the realignment and reclassification process is final.

(d) VACANCY AND REPLACEMENT.

(1) Vacancy. A member of the Legislative Council vacates the position if that member ceases to be a superintendent or principal, joins a member school district in another basketball region, resigns as a member, or otherwise becomes unable to serve.

(2) Replacement.

(A) Elected Members. If an elected member vacates a position, the Executive Director shall conduct an election to elect a person to serve the unexpired term. This election shall be conducted under conditions substantially equivalent to those for a regular election. If the resignation of an elected member occurs with less than two years remaining in the term, the chair of the Legislative Council may appoint an eligible superintendent, assistant superintendent or principal to serve the unexpired term of the member who vacated the position.

(B) Appointed Members. If an appointed member vacates a position, the chair of the Legislative Council shall appoint a replacement to serve the unexpired term of the member who vacated the position. 

(C) Elected and Appointed Positions. For both elected and appointed positions, no replacement will be sought when a vacancy occurs within six months of the end of the term.

(e) ANNUAL MEETING.

The Legislative Council shall begin its annual meeting on the weekend of the third Sunday in October. Fifteen members constitute a quorum. Exception: The date of the Legislative Council meeting may be changed with the approval of the UIL Executive Director and the chair of the Legislative Council.

(f) ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The Legislative Council shall annually elect from its membership a chair, vice chair and second vice chair to serve until the end of the next annual meeting.

(g) SPECIAL MEETINGS.

The chair of the Legislative Council may call a special meeting of the Council by giving notice to members of the Council and member school districts at least one month before the meeting. Seven members of the Council may call a special meeting of the Council by giving notice in writing to the Executive Director at least one month before the meeting and by stating the matters to be considered at the meeting. Upon receiving a proper call for a special meeting from members of the Council, the Executive Director shall notify the members of the Council and member school districts. Subject to the Texas Open Meeting’s Act (Tex. Gov’t. Code Ch. 551), the chair may call an emergency meeting by giving two days’ notice. The notice for an emergency meeting should state the time, date and place of the meeting and the subjects on the agenda.

(h) RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Legislative Council, consistent with the policies of The University of Texas at Austin:

(1) may propose amendments of the Constitution and may, if permitted under Section 331, amend the Constitution;

(2) may amend and adopt contest rules;

(3) shall appoint ad hoc and advisory standing committees and may appoint committees;

(4) shall fix annual membership dues, participation fees and filing fees; and

(5) may take such other action that is reasonable, necessary or desirable and consistent with the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, the rules of the State Board of Education and the law.

(i) STANDING COMMITTEES.

The Legislative Council shall have standing committees in the following areas: Academic; Athletic; Finance; Policy; Medical Advisory; Music; and Music Technical Advisory. All Standing Committees are advisory only.

(1) Academic, Athletic, and Music Advisory Committees

(A) Appointments, Composition, Quorum

i. Appointments. The chair of the Legislative Council appoints the members of the Academic, Athletic, and Music Advisory Committees each April for annual terms beginning June 1. The Committee shall be composed of Legislative Council Members.

ii. Business meeting quorum. A majority of the members of a committee constitute a quorum for business meetings.

(B) Responsibilities. The Academic, Athletic and Music Committees shall provide independent and impartial advice and recommendations to the Legislative Council regarding all rules, rule proposals and issues regarding the respective committees’ activity area:

i. Academic Committee. The Athletic Committee shall be responsible for advice and recommendations to the Legislative Council in regards to rules, rule proposals and issues involving athletic competition, including:

(aa) student eligibility for academic contests;

(bb) academic contest rules;

(cc) fees, costs and administration of academic contests; and

(dd) any other rules, proposals or issues that apply to academic competitions.

ii. Athletic Committee. The Athletic Committee shall be responsible for advice and recommendations to the Legislative Council in regards to rules, rule proposals and issues involving athletic competition, including:

(aa) student eligibility for athletic contests;

(bb) athletic contest rules;

(cc) fees, costs and administration of athletic contests; and

(dd) any other rules, proposals or issues that apply to athletic competitions.

iii. Music Committee. The Music Committee shall be responsible for advice and recommendations to the Legislative Council in regards to rules, rule proposals and issues involving music competition, including:

(aa) student eligibility for music contests;

(bb) music contest rules;

(cc) fees, costs and administration of music contests; and

(dd) any other rules, proposals or issues that apply to music competitions.

(ee) The Music Committee may propose any recommendations that it receives from the Music Technical Advisory Committee to the Legislative Council.

(C) Procedural Rules. Upon recommendation of a committee chair, the Academic, Athletic, and Music Advisory Committees may adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent with the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules.

(D) Parliamentarian. The chair of the Academic, Athletic, and Music Advisory Committees may appoint a parliamentarian during business meetings and public hearings.

(2) Music Technical Advisory Committee

(A) Appointments, Composition, Quorum

(i) Appointments. The State Director of Music shall appoint a committee to consult with the State Director of Music on recommendations and proposed rule changes pertaining to the technical and administrative aspects of music. Representation from each performance area shall be considered when making committee appointments. The committee shall be composed as follows:

(aa) six music teachers or supervisors who shall serve three-year staggered terms;

(bb) the president of the Texas Music Educators Association or a designee; and the

(cc) State Director of Music.

(ii) Business Meeting Quorum. A majority of the members of the Music Technical Advisory Committee constitute a quorum for business meetings.

(B) Responsibilities. The State Director of Music in consultation with the Music Technical Advisory Committee shall propose technical and administrative rules at the request of the Standing Committee on Music.

(C) Procedural Rules. Procedural Rules. Upon recommendation of the committee chair, the Music Technical Advisory Committee may adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent with the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules.

(D) Parliamentarian. The chair of the Music Technical Advisory Committee may appoint a parliamentarian during business meetings and public hearings.

(3) Finance Committee

(A) Appointments, Composition, Quorum

(i) Appointments. The chair of the Legislative Council appoints the members of the Finance Committee each April for annual terms beginning June 1. The Committee shall be composed of active Legislative Council members.

(ii) Business Meeting Quorum. A majority of the members of the Finance Committee constitute a quorum for business meetings.

(B) Responsibilities. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for advice and recommendations to the Legislative Council in regards to rules, rule proposals and issues regarding UIL finances, including:

(i) budget and funding rules and issues;

(ii) fees, dues and other charges to member schools;

(iii) other sources of income; and

(iv) any other rules, proposals or issues regarding UIL finances that will materially impact the UIL and its member schools.

(C) Procedural Rules. Upon recommendation of the committee chair, the Finance Committee may adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent with the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules.

(D) Parliamentarian. The chair of the Finance Committee may appoint a parliamentarian during business meeting and public hearings.

(4) Policy Committee

(A) Appointments, Composition, Quorum

(i) Appointments. The chair of the Legislative Council appoints the members of the Policy Committee each April for annual terms beginning June 1. The Committee shall be composed of active Legislative Council members.

(ii) Business Meeting Quorum. A majority of the members of the Policy Committee constitute a quorum for business meetings.

(B) Responsibilities. The Policy Committee shall be responsible for advice and recommendations to the Legislative Council in regards to all non-financial rules, rule proposals and issues regarding policy, including:

(i) rules and issues that apply to all UIL events and contest areas;

(ii) general membership and admission to the UIL;

(iii) conference and district alignment; 

(iv) rules promulgation and executive authority; and

(v) any other rule or issue regarding governance and overall policy of the UIL.

(C) Procedural Rules. Upon recommendation of the committee chair, the Policy Committee may adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent with the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules.

(D) Parliamentarian. The chair of the Policy Committee may appoint a parliamentarian during business meeting and public hearings.

(5) Medical Advisory Committee

(A) Appointments, Composition, Quorum

(i) Appointments. The chair of the Legislative Council appoints the members of the Medical Advisory Committee each April for annual terms beginning June 1. The Committee shall be composed as follows:

(aa) eight Texas licensed physicians, at least one of who shall be a board-certified neurologist or neurosurgeon and one a board-certified cardiologist;

(bb) three athletic trainers with preference for two trainers employed in the field of secondary high school sports and, of those two preferably one trainer who predominantly works with female athletes and one who works predominantly with male athletes, and a third trainer employed by a Texas college or university sports program; and

(cc) three non-voting members including one representative each from the Texas State Athletic Trainers Association, the Texas Girls Coaches Association and the Texas High School Coaches Association.

(dd) The committee shall elect a chair annually at the first meeting after June 30.

(ii) Business Meeting Quorum. Six members of the Medical Advisory Committee constitute a quorum for business meetings.

(B) Responsibilities. The Medical Advisory Committee shall provide independent and impartial advice and recommendations to the UIL regarding all rules or rule change proposals related to student safety or medical science, including but not limited to:

(i) pre-participation physical examinations for students;

(ii) practice and participation limitations for students;

(iii) education and training programs for students and school employees; and

(iv) protective equipment and other safety measures.

(C) Procedural Rules. Upon recommendation of the committee chair, the Medical Advisory Committee may adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent with the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules.

(D) Parliamentarian. The chair of the Medical Advisory Committee may appoint a parliamentarian during business meetings and public hearings.

(j) AD HOC AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

Unless otherwise provided in the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, the chair of the Legislative Council, in consultation with the Executive Director, may create ad hoc and advisory committees; appointing members and committee chairs.

(k) COMMITTEE TERMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

(1) Appointment Terms. Unless otherwise provided in the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, the members shall serve on standing, advisory or ad hoc committees until the chair withdraws the appointment or until either the purpose or duration of the committee has been achieved or has expired, whichever comes first.

(2) Conduct of Committee Business. The chair of a standing, advisory or ad hoc committee shall direct the work of the committee pursuant to the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules and the special procedural rules of the Legislative Council.

(3) Responsibilities. The responsibilities of the standing, advisory or ad hoc committees shall generally be as follows:

(A) to study information and issues relevant to the body within the subject matter area of the committee;

(B) to inform the body of its findings;

(C) to prepare and present written motions or written resolutions concerning the issues to the body; and

(D) to handle those issues assigned by the body from time to time.

(l) PROCEDURAL RULES.

The Legislative Council may adopt procedural rules consistent with the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, upon the recommendation of its chair to facilitate its public hearings and the legislative process.

(m) PARLIAMENTARIAN.

The chair of the Legislative Council may appoint a parliamentarian during business meetings and public hearings.