Bill > AB240

This bill requires public schools and private schools that compete against public schools to designate their athletic teams and sports by biological sex at birth: either as "males," "females," or "coed." Teams designated as female may not include male athletes, and teams designated as male may not include female athletes. The bill defines "sex" as the biological sex observed or clinically verified at birth, and explicitly states that these sex-based team designations do not constitute discrimination. The legislation allows students who are denied athletic opportunities or experience retaliation for reporting violations to bring civil actions against schools, with a two-year statute of limitations. The bill extends similar provisions to institutions of higher education, prohibiting governmental entities, athletic associations, and accrediting organizations from taking adverse actions against schools maintaining sex-specific athletic teams. The bill's underlying rationale, as explained in its whereas clauses, is based on scientific research highlighting physiological differences between males and females in sports performance, with the goal of protecting opportunities and safety for female athletes by preventing biological males from competing on female teams.