(a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) Physical differences between biological males and biological females have long made separate and sex-specific sports teams important so that female athletes can have equal opportunities to compete in sports.
(2) Physical advantages for biological males relevant to sports include, on average, a larger body size with more skeletal muscle mass, a lower percentage of body fat, and greater maximal delivery of anaerobic and aerobic energy than biological females.
(3) Even at young ages, biological males typically score higher than biological females on cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and speed and agility. These differences become more pronounced during and after puberty as biological males produce higher levels of testosterone. On average, biological male athletes are bigger, faster, stronger, and more physically powerful than their biological female counterparts. This results in a significant sports performance gap between the sexes.
(4) Studies have shown that the benefits that natural testosterone provides to biological male athletes is not significantly diminished through the use of testosterone suppression. Testosterone suppression in biological males does not result in a level playing field between biological male and biological female athletes.
(5) Because of the physical differences between biological males and biological females, having separate athletic teams based on the athletes' biological sex reduces the chance of injury to biological female athletes and promotes sex equality. It provides opportunities for biological female athletes to compete against their peers rather than against biological male athletes, and allows biological female athletes to compete on a fair playing field for scholarships and other athletic accomplishments.
(b)(1) Except as provided in subsection (c), a public K-12 school may not participate in, sponsor, or provide coaching staff for interscholastic athletic events within this state that are either scheduled by or conducted under the authority of any athletic association of the state that permits or allows participation in athletic events within the state conducted exclusively for males by any individual who is not a biological male or participation in athletic events within the state conducted exclusively for females by any individual who is not a biological female.
(2) A public K-12 school may not allow a biological female to participate on a male team if there is a female team in a sport. A public K-12 school may not allow a biological male to participate on a female team.
(c) This section does not apply to athletic events at which both biological males and biological females are permitted or allowed to participate.
Structure Code of Alabama
Chapter 1 - General Provisions.
Section 16-1-2.1 - New School Construction to Include Approved Safe Space or Hallway.
Section 16-1-2.5 - (Effective February 1, 2022) Contracts.
Section 16-1-3 - Photographing or Microphotographing Records - Authorized; Force and Effect.
Section 16-1-5 - Photographing or Microphotographing Records - Intent.
Section 16-1-6 - Association of School Board Members.
Section 16-1-7 - Eye Protective Devices for Pupils and Teachers Participating in Certain Courses.
Section 16-1-8.1 - Classroom Instructional Support.
Section 16-1-10 - Selling, etc., Alcoholic Beverages to School Children; Keeping on School Premises.
Section 16-1-11 - Private Schools to Register and Report;.
Section 16-1-11.1 - Autonomy of Nonpublic Schools - Legislative Findings.
Section 16-1-11.3 - Autonomy of Nonpublic Schools - Applicability of Statutory Requirements.
Section 16-1-11.5 - Teacher Certification.
Section 16-1-11.6 - Membership of Nonpublic Schools in Alabama High School Athletic Association.
Section 16-1-13 - Teaching Pupils of Disparate Ability, Background and Achievement.
Section 16-1-15 - Classification and Grouping of Pupils Upon Consideration of Social Attitudes, Etc.
Section 16-1-16 - Special Courses, Tutoring, Counseling, etc., for Special Groups of Pupils.
Section 16-1-16.1 - Alabama Council on Family and Children.
Section 16-1-17 - Contest of Certain Elections.
Section 16-1-18.1 - Accumulation of Sick Leave.
Section 16-1-18.2 - Payment for Unused Sick Leave Upon Death of Employee.
Section 16-1-20 - Period of Silence for Meditation at Beginning of First Class in Public Schools.
Section 16-1-20.1 - Period of Silence for Meditation.
Section 16-1-20.2 - School Prayer.
Section 16-1-20.3 - Student-Initiated Voluntary Prayer.
Section 16-1-20.4 - Period of Quiet Reflection.
Section 16-1-20.5 - Protection of Student Religious Liberties.
Section 16-1-20.6 - Released Time for Student Participation in Religious Instruction.
Section 16-1-22 - Audit of Certain Institutions.
Section 16-1-23 - Hazing Prohibited; Penalty.
Section 16-1-24.2 - Department of Education to Develop Statewide Violence Prevention Program.
Section 16-1-25.1 - Access by Professional Educators' Associations.
Section 16-1-26 - Compensation of School Board Members.
Section 16-1-27 - Use of Electronic Communication Devices on School Property.
Section 16-1-30 - Written Educational Policies, Rules and Regulations of Local Boards of Education.
Section 16-1-31 - Elective Course Credit for Participation in Ymca Youth and Government Programs.
Section 16-1-32 - Debit Cards; Authorized Uses; Transaction Fees.
Section 16-1-33 - Written Reduction-in-Force Policy.
Section 16-1-35 - Governor's Academic Achievement Program.
Section 16-1-36 - Tutoring Programs for Students Accessed Below Average Sat Scores.
Section 16-1-37 - Issuance of High School Diplomas to Certain Honorably Discharged Veterans.
Section 16-1-39 - Self-Administration of Medications by Student.
Section 16-1-40 - Education Trust Fund Proration Relief.
Section 16-1-41 - Orientation and Training for Members of Local Board of Education.
Section 16-1-41.1 - School Board Governance Improvement.
Section 16-1-42 - High School Fast Track to College Program.
Section 16-1-43 - Waiver of Undergraduate Tuition and Fees for Purple Heart Recipients.
Section 16-1-44 - School Emergency Operations Plans.
Section 16-1-44.1 - School Security Personnel and School Resource Officers.
Section 16-1-44.2 - Electronic Notification System.
Section 16-1-45 - Automated External Defibrillator Requirements.
Section 16-1-46 - Farm-to-School Procurement Processes and Procedures.
Section 16-1-48 - Anaphylaxis Preparedness Program.
Section 16-1-50 - Possession and Use of Over-the-Counter Sunscreen by Students.
Section 16-1-52 - Participation in Athletic Events to Be Based on Biological Sex of Athletes.
Section 16-1-53 - Broadcast of Public K-12 School Sporting Events.