Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 163 (2023GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Pierucci, C.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/14/2023

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• provides that certain associations and educational organizations may not prohibit a student athlete from wearing religious clothing, or other clothing consistent with the student athlete's beliefs, while participating in an athletic activity; and
• requires certain associations and educational organizations to provide the clothing described in the preceding paragraph if the association or educational organization requires that the clothing be a certain material, style, or color.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

PROTECTING STUDENT RELIGIOUS AND MORAL
BELIEFS REGARDING ATHLETIC UNIFORM
REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci
Senate Sponsor: 
Kirk A. Cullimore
Cosponsors:
Cheryl K. Acton
Melissa G. Ballard
Kera Birkeland
Jefferson S. Burton
Kay J. Christofferson
Tyler Clancy
James Cobb
Paul A. Cutler
Jennifer Dailey-Provost
Stephanie Gricius
Katy Hall
Sahara Hayes
Ken Ivory
Tim Jimenez
Dan N. Johnson
Marsha Judkins
Jason Kyle
Karianne Lisonbee
Anthony E. Loubet
Steven J. Lund
Ashlee Matthews
Carol S. Moss
Michael J. Petersen
Karen M. Peterson
Susan Pulsipher
Judy Weeks Rohner
Mike Schultz
Rex P. Shipp
Robert M. Spendlove
Raymond P. Ward
Christine F. Watkins
Ryan D. Wilcox
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses requirements for uniforms worn while participating in certain school
athletic activities.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ provides that certain associations and educational organizations may not prohibit a
student athlete from wearing religious clothing, or other clothing consistent with the student
athlete's beliefs, while participating in an athletic activity; and
▸ requires certain associations and educational organizations to provide the clothing
described in the preceding paragraph if the association or educational organization
requires that the clothing be a certain material, style, or color.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53G-7-801
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 223
ENACTS:
53G-7-804
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53G-7-801
 is amended to read:
53G-7-801.
Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Association" means an organization that governs or regulates a student's
participation in an athletic activity.
(2) "Athletic activity" means physical education instruction or a sports event that is:
(a) sponsored or regulated by an association or educational organization; or
(b) authorized to take place in an association's or educational organization's facilities.
(3) "Athletic uniform" means clothing, headwear, shoes, or other items worn for
participation in an athletic activity that are required to be:
(a) a specified style, length, material, or color;
(b) worn in a specified manner; or
(c) worn with or without other items of clothing or headwear.
(4) "Educational organization" means:
(a) the state board;
(b) an LEA; or
(c) a school sports team.
[
(1)
] 
(5)
 "Principal" includes the chief administrator of a school that does not have a
principal.
[
(2)
] 
(6)
 "School" means a public school, including a charter school.
[
(3)
] 
(7)
 "School official" means the principal of a school or the local school board for
a school district.
(8) "School sports team" means a team on which the student represents the student's
school in competition against another school or in competition against other students within the
same school.
[
(4)
] 
(9)
 "School uniform" means the same as that term is defined in Section
53G-7-501
.
Section 2. Section 
53G-7-804
 is enacted to read:
 53G-7-804.
Requirements for uniforms for students participating in an athletic
activity.
(1) An association or educational organization that requires a student to wear an
athletic uniform for participation in an athletic activity may not prohibit the student from:
(a) wearing religious clothing with the athletic uniform; or
(b) wearing clothing under, or with, but not substantially covering, the athletic uniform
to, consistent with the student's religious or moral beliefs, cover or conceal parts of the
student's body that are not covered or concealed by the athletic uniform.
(2) (a) A student has the right to, while participating in a school-related athletic activity
or an athletic activity using school facilities, wear clothing as described in Subsection (1).
(b) The prohibition described in Subsection (1) and the right described in Subsection
(2)(a) apply regardless of whether the student wears, or is required to wear, an athletic uniform
while participating in the athletic activity.
(3) If an association or educational organization places requirements on religious
clothing or other clothing described in Subsection (1) or (2), other than the material, style, or
color of the uniform itself, the association or organization:
(a) shall provide the clothing at the association's or educational organization's expense;
and
(b) may not impose a requirement in relation to the clothing, including the material,
color, style, or manner of wearing the clothing, that violates the student's religious or moral
beliefs.
Section 3. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.