No high school athletics in 2014-2015 for Louisiana?

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Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, authored a bill that says no public or private high schools that receive public money can be a member of any organization that does not use third-party arbitration to settle player eligibility disputes

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I have concerns that if passed, this bill could halt athletics in Louisiana due to the fact that schools would have no alternate association to join,” Guice said. Guice said the financial burden of arbitration would be an insurmountable obstacle. He said their research shows arbitration costs an average of $4,500 per case and could get as expensive as $6,000 per case.

The LHSAA heard about 475 appeals last year. Using the arbitration average costs, that amounts to about $2.1 million, which is more than half of the association’s total operating budget.

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Though not mentioned in the legislation, Episcopal High School of Baton Rouge student Clement Mubungirwa lies at the heart of the bill.

Mubungirwa turns 19 years old in July, which makes him ineligible to play high school sports per LHSAA rules. His appeal to the LHSAA Executive Committee was denied in an 11-8 vote despite the compelling circumstances surrounding his case.

Originally from the Congo, his father was killed and he and his family once lived in a Ugandan refugee camp. He eventually came to the United States, but he was far behind educationally.

“His story is a compelling story. If ever there should be an exception, it should be for this kid,” Claitor said.

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The Senate passed the bill almost entirely with support from Baton Rouge and New Orleans-based senators. The entire northeastern Louisiana delegation voted against the bill.

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