House adopts amendments reshaping oversight of South Carolina High School League

Representative Erickson explained a set of committee and sponsor amendments to legislation governing the South Carolina High School League, saying the package preserves the league’s name and places students’ eligibility and continuity first. “The amendment allows the South Carolina High School League to remain in place,” Erickson said, adding the changes avoid disrupting current contracts and eligibility.

Erickson described the new executive committee as capped at 13 members with representation from coaches, referees and officials, two House education committee appointments, two Senate education committee appointments, governor and superintendent appointees, and others. The proposal subjects the league to audits by the Legislative Audit Council, requires submission of an annual budget to the General Assembly and directs the league to appear annually before House Ways and Means and Senate Finance for oversight.

Asked whether the appeals board would remain, Erickson said the appeals board was not removed and the amendment includes a study committee to review operations and management. Coach Hayes, identified in the discussion as a close collaborator on the rewrite, participated in questioning and was repeatedly described as integral to the work on the new structure.

The chamber adopted the committee amendment (number 1) and later adopted the sponsor amendment after clarifying a misnumbering; the adopted amendment was announced as converting the package into a bill. The clerk then announced that second reading of the resulting House bill (listed by the clerk) required a roll-call vote and was ordered accordingly.

The action does not yet represent final enactment; the amendment package now proceeds through the House’s remaining procedural steps, including the scheduled roll-call second reading.