TEXAS Parents and Gymnasts PLEASE READ. Time to rabble so grab your pitchfork

[Linsul]

This was sent out by Diane Callison of Texas USA Gymnastics. This only affects our state, please read it as it has potential to HUGELY impact our sport of choice. Cliffnotes: a senator is getting a bill voted on soon that would require facilities where kids train more than 10 hours a week to be child care licensed. All the ways that would impact gyms, coaches, athletes, and parents are listed below in the email.

Texas Senate and House Bills

that will affect the Sport Of Gymnastics

Some of you are aware that we have proposed bills in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives that will affect our future in the sport of gymnastics.
All of these bills are posted on txusag.com and on the Texas legislative websites.

Senate Bill 68 overview: If you have children who train 10 hours or more a week in your facility - you will be required to be child care licensed by the state of Texas. This licensing will require your facility to meet all the minimum standards set by child care licensing (most gyms will not be able to meet these requirements which will include bathroom sink/toilet ratios in compliance with child care standards, out door playground, Child Care certification of workers and director, sprinkler systems that not only meet building code but also meet child care standards and climbing structures with safety fall zones). Uneven bars would be considered a climbing structure and would not pass child care regulations. This bill passed the Senate Sub Committee unanimously yesterday.

What can you do?
1. Read Senate Bill 68, House Bills, 601, 773, 188, 1123 and 1393.
2. Understand that this is a TEXAS problem. It is not U.S. law. Although the national USAG office is aware of our plight, we in Texas are the most affected and I need everyone to get involved! 3. Time is of the essence. These Bills are moving very q uickly. Luckily they have not hit the floor of the House for vote yet (whew). We know that they will be voted on during this session of legislators and be final by May of this year.
4. After reading the new wording in Senate Bill 68, authored by Senator Jane Nelson, Flower Mound, Texas, you should understand the following:

A. Gymnastics, Karate, Cheerleading, Dance and other indoor skills based activities would fall under a School Age Program requiring state licensing.

B. That along with Senator Nelson, we are also dedicated and interested in the safety of the children of Texas, although we disagree with the ramifications of Senate Bill 68. Skills based programs should not be defined in the same category with child care and have the same regulations that are required by facilities that provide child care.

C. Gymnastics Clubs are NOT Child Care providers - nor do we want to become Child Care providers! 1. We do not have training in Child Care.
2. The students in our gyms/classes are there based on their parents decision to place them a skills based activity, not because their parents want them in Child Care.
3. We are are providing a service that the child's parent(s) have specifically chosen to allow them to participate in. 4. That we teach life skills through a sport. The lessons learned while under our instruction will carry them through their entire adult life. As they champion causes, captain ships, lead troops, manage corporations and make successes from personal endeavors.

After reading these bills you should realize that requiring gymnastics programs to be Child Care licensed will destroy the gymnastics community in the hardest economic times that our country has faced since the great depression. Many gyms will not be able to financially survive the necessary building changes that would be required by Child Care licensing.

Other points to consider are:

1.We live in the number 1 country in the world for child obesity and poor physical fitness. Think of the ramifications if children were required to be in child care centers instead of skills based activities.
2. How could the youth of Texas compete against other states for college scholarships if limited to less than 10 hours of training a week?
3. Child Care centers do not take children after 6th grade. Where would these children be? (hanging out at the mall or Stop and Go).
4. In the state of Texas 35 children died while in Child Care Centers this year. If there were that many deaths with the oversight of the state agency and the inspectors that they have, how would diluting the ability to oversee centers help keep kids alive?
5. Our coaches and professional members are required to be safety certified by our national governing body. As professionals in the sport of gymnastics coaches are trained in the prevention of injuries and how to react if one occurs.
6. On a personal note -as a parent and grandparent, I believe that if the state is saying that I have placed my child in an unsafe environment - i.e., a gymnastics or skills based activity, then the state should come after me as an unfit parent, not the activity that I enrolled my child in.
Where do our parental rights begin?

I need your help to fight this enormous battle.

How can you help? 1. Get the parents in your gym active.
2. As citizens we are allowed to ask for an opportunity to meet with the people that represent us in Austin.
3. I need some people to help organize the clubs across Texas to take a "Field Trip" to Austin - athletes included - wearing their team warm-ups, displaying a medal they have earned while in a skills based activity.
(did you know that if a student is absent from school that federal funding is not paid on that day)? Children addressing the representatives would be a great benefit. They are hard to turn down, the media loves them and they speak for the future of our country.
4. Get letters going to Senators and House of Representatives from parents, students who have received scholarships through their gymnastics, friends and neighbors. Anyone who believes that children prosper from being involved in sports.
5. Network..you know someone who knows someone. Find out how well you are connected.
6. I need someone to work on email databases that are not just gymnastics linked - bring in other skills based sports. This would allow us to reach a large number of people with just one click of the "SEND" button.
7. Call, write and contact your state representatives and voice your concerns and remember, you DO have a right to vote during upcoming elections!

This legislation will affect all skills based programs, it will definitely affect you. Do you know an indoor soccer coach, dance, cheer or karate instructor? They may not have the state knocking at their door today, but they WILL have them knocking if this legislation go through as proposed.
Go to legis.state.tx.us and click on "Who Represents Me? You will find contact information there.

I can fight for you, but WILL NOT win without you and your parents support and involvement.
Remember, we are Texans. We fought at the Alamo, we can fight in Austin!


Band together, link arms and let's get going!

[Linsul]

The link to find your Texas Representative is broken, here is one that works:

Who Represents Me--Home

Mine happens to be none other than Senator Nelson, yay. My daughter and her friends who do gymnastics along with her will be making a field trip to her district office. They will be in their leos, and if I have the go ahead from the gym I'll wear a staff shirt. If I find any larger groups going we'll go with them too. This is outrageous, I'm livid.

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Good luck! This would REALLY suck if it went through.

[msl529]

Thanks, Linsul! I have been reading about this in the paper, on the TX USAG website, etc. It's crazy! I'll look up my rep. on that website and see what i can do.

[Linsul]

Originally Posted by Geoffrey Taucer

Good luck! This would REALLY suck if it went through.

The suckage would be intense. I took a look at the other bills on the legislative website, a lot of it makes me rage. Inane, nonsensical and ridiculous crap to get the votes of people who don't know enough about sports to think beyond 'oh hey I see 'child safety' in there, I'll check the yes box!'

Originally Posted by msl529

Thanks, Linsul! I have been reading about this in the paper, on the TX USAG website, etc. It's crazy! I'll look up my rep. on that website and see what i can do.

I've been in my own world lately being on vacation, DD's bday party, etc. I come back to reality and found this and I was shocked! I see what they're trying to do, but ruination in the name of safety is beyond stupid. This trend of bubble-wrapping kids so we can turn them loose at 18 fat, clueless, and thinking the world a McDonalds playplace is offensive. Also contrary the good advice by more educated people than Senator Nelson in psychology and fitness, and more worthy informed institutions than a thinktank for future votes aka the Senators office.

We have the 6th largest childhood obesity rate in the nation. She's a former teacher is what I read. She should both know better and be ashamed. I've been looking at the Texas dept. of Agriculture, CDC, Texas education standards, and athletic scholarship information on Texas athletes. Preparing some choice words for this jaunt to the gauntlet.

[ek2]

I just read about this myself. This would be horrible not just for Texas, but the ramifications for other states as well. Where do these legislators think all of the college, olympic and professional athletes come from??? It takes a lot of hard work and long hours to see accomplishments in sports. Anyway, thank you Linsul for posting. I have already sent a letter to my state senator Dan Patrick.

[ek2]

Here is the web address for Senator Nelson who sponsored this bill.
The more people who email the better!
The Texas State Senate: District 12

Thanks

[Linsul]

Here's the latest update! I think it's on the Texas USAG site under press releases, but I check my email obsessively and apparently they email as obsessively! It's good news, I'm tentatively hopeful but will still be visiting the district office and emailing until my fingers fall off from driving and typing.

Hi all,
I want to keep you up to date on issues that have been swirling around our gymasntics community, specifically, the senate and house bills.

It has been a very busy week, not only in Texas USA Gymanstics but also at the offices of our state representatives.

First let me say that it is obvious that you all care about the children. Your voice has been heard.

I received an email from Senator Nelson today addressing some of our concerns as well as an email from Phil Fountain, Policy Analyist with Senator Nelson's office. Mr. Fountain and I will be visiting and working together to bring about a good resolution to this situation. (I will include the letter from Senator Nelson in this communication).

I am now asking all of you to sit tight and to give the Senator's office and I time to discuss this issue in depth. Your phone calls, emails and letters have been greatly appreciated and I will let you know if any additional direct communication from you to the offices of our represntatives will be needed.

I need an opportunity to visit with them to get a detailed view of their intent and all the other specifics of these bills. It is ultimately our goal to work together with the Seantor and other legislators for the good of our industry and the children.

I will be sharing information with you as quickly as I can. I apprecieate all of you and all that you care about. I promise to work tirelessly to bring this to a good end.

Diane


Below is the letter sent by Senator Nelson...


"My goal with this legislation is to protect our children from abuse, neglect and sexual predators. Additionally, this legislation re-instates and expands exemptions for important neighborhood services, after-school programs, sports training and recreational activities that were never envisioned for state daycare regulation. These exemptions were nullified last year when the Office of Attorney General ruled that the Department of Family and Protective Services, which regulates day care, may not create license exemptions without legislative authority.

"I will certainly continue to change the wording of this legislation to prevent any adverse impact on these activities."

-Senator Jane Nelson

[msl529]

Originally Posted by Linsul

Additionally, this legislation re-instates and expands exemptions for important neighborhood services, after-school programs, sports training and recreational activities that were never envisioned for state daycare regulation. These exemptions were nullified last year when the Office of Attorney General ruled that the Department of Family and Protective Services, which regulates day care, may not create license exemptions without legislative authority.

"I will certainly continue to change the wording of this legislation to prevent any adverse impact on these activities."

-Senator Jane Nelson

This is good news. I hope it all works out. Thanks for keeping us informed, Linsul!

[cathiann]

Wow! I can't imagine the pain that would be if it went through. Hopefully the changes that Senator Nelson mentions will go through.