BILL NUMBER: S4496

SPONSOR: WEIK
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to protecting women
sports from unfair competition

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this legislation is to protect women's sports from unfair
competition.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

The education law is amended by adding a new section 3229 which reads:

"Female sports. Notwithstanding any general, special, local law or rule
or regulation of the education department to the contrary, an interscho-
lastic or intramural athletic team or sport that is sponsored by a
public school or a private school for students in grades seven through
twelve, which competes against other public or private middle or high
              

schools, shall not permit persons other than those assigned female at
birth to join such team or participate in such sport if such athletic
team or sport is expressly designated solely for female athletes."

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Women have been fighting for equal opportunity in sports for decades and
have made remarkable progress in limiting discrimination on the basis of
sex, including the passage of Title IX in 1972. However, in recent
years, transgender biological men have been competing in women's sports,
even though their inherent biological differences give them an unfair
competitive advantage. For example, Chelsea Mitchell lost the 2019
Connecticut state championship in women's 55-meter indoor track competi-
tion to two biologically male competitors. She is not alone in this
heartbreak.

The research regarding the performance and physiological differences
between biological men and women is clear and unequivocal. Biological
disparities and testosterone in biological men pose insurmountable
barriers for biological women competing against men in sports.

According to a study at the Karolinska Institute and the University of
Manchester, testosterone suppression only very minimally curtails phys-
ical advantages for biological men over biological females. New York
Times author Doriane Lambelet Coleman concluded that these elevated
testosterone levels in biological men affect hemoglobin levels, body fat
content, storage and use of carbohydrates, and the development of Type
2, muscle fibers, which all induce higher speed and power during phys-
ical activity.

This legislation is necessary in ensuring fair and equal opportunity for
women in sports is maintained by ensuring a level playing field.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the state.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addi-
tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to
be made and completed on or before such effective date.