A bill that would designate a sports governing body for private schools was passed by the state senate's Education Committee on Monday.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, calls for private schools to be under the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association instead of the Florida High School Athletic Association.
It passed the committee by a 4-1 vote. The bill was amended to allow private schools to choose which association to belong to.
The proposal would prevent the FHSAA from "denying or discouraging" regular-season competitions between its members and SIAA schools.
The bill next goes to the Senate Budget Committee. If it passes, it goes to the full body.
A similar bill has been proposed in the state House.
The SIAA, which formed in 2007, has several private and charter schools. Some faced sanctions by the FHSAA before breaking away.
The FHSAA, which has been in existence since 1920, governs sports, competitions and championships for the vast majority of public and private high schools in the state.
Last year, the FHSAA's board of directors voted to deny an SIAA request for interleague play.
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