A Missouri House committee has advanced a bill that would prevent the Missouri State High School Activities Association from acting as an appellate body.
Sponsored by Rep. Bennie Cook, R-Houston, the bill was before the House Emerging Issues Committee. It  recently voted 10-4 to support the bill that would prohibit MSHSAA, that facilitates interscholastic activities for high school students who attend public or private schools, from serving as the appellate body that handles appeals of decisions made by it.
The amended bill designates the legislature’s Joint Committee on Education as the authority to handle such appeals. Within 48 hours of receiving an appeal, the committee shall meet, in person or remotely, to consider the appeal, and within 24 hours of such meeting, the committee shall decide on the appeal.
MSHSAA would be responsible for any expenses of the committee members, according to the amended bill.
The legislation stems from the recent HHS volleyball season that saw MSHSAA rule on an eligibility issue, which was ultimately overturned through a judicial process.