2022 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 70. Schools
§70-27-106. Short title - Save Women's Sports Act – Requirements – Causes of action.

A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Save Women's Sports Act".

B. As used in this section:

1. "School" means a public school district or public charter school in this state or an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education;

2. "School athletic association" shall have the same meaning as provided for in Section 27-102 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and

3. "Intercollegiate association" shall mean a national association that sets eligibility requirements for participation in sports at the collegiate level and that provides the coordination, supervision and regulation of the intercollegiate competitions.

C. Athletic teams that are sponsored by a school or sponsored by a private school whose students or teams compete against a school shall be expressly designated as one of the following based on biological sex:

1. "Males", "men" or "boys";

2. "Females", "women" or "girls"; or

3. "Coed" or "mixed".

D. Prior to the beginning of each school year, the parent or legal guardian of a student who competes on a school athletic team shall sign an affidavit acknowledging the biological sex of the student at birth. If the student is eighteen (18) years of age or older, the student who competes on a school athletic team shall sign an affidavit acknowledging his or her biological sex at birth. If there is any change in the status of the biological sex of the student, the affiant shall notify the school within thirty (30) days of such change.

E. 1. Athletic teams designated for "females", "women" or "girls" shall not be open to students of the male sex.

2. Any student who is deprived of an athletic opportunity or suffers any direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of paragraph 1 of this subsection shall have a cause of action for injunctive relief, damages and any other relief available permitted by law against the school.

3. Any student who is subject to retaliation or other adverse action by a school, school athletic association or intercollegiate association as a result of reporting a violation of paragraph 1 of this subsection to an employee or representative of the school, school athletic association or intercollegiate association or to any state or federal agency with oversight of schools in this state shall have a cause of action for injunctive relief, damages and any other relief available permitted by law against the school, school athletic association or intercollegiate association.

F. 1. The State Board of Education, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and any school athletic association or intercollegiate association of which a school is a member shall be prohibited from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation or taking any other adverse action against a school for maintaining athletic teams or sports for students of the female sex as provided for in subsection E of this section.

2. Any school that suffers any direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of paragraph 1 of this subsection shall have a cause of action for injunctive relief, damages and any other relief permitted by law against the State Board of Education, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, school athletic association or intercollegiate association.

G. Causes of action authorized by this section shall be initiated within two (2) years after the harm occurred. Persons or associations that prevail on a claim brought pursuant to this section shall be entitled to monetary damages including for any psychological, emotional and physical harm suffered, reasonable attorney fees and costs and any other appropriate relief permitted by law.

Added by Laws 2022, c. 8, § 1, emerg. eff. March 30, 2022.