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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING STUDENT

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ATHLETES' RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND

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MODESTY

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2022 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci

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Senate Sponsor: Kirk A. Cullimore

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9     LONG TITLE
10     General Description:
11          This resolution encourages all municipalities, public and private K-12 schools,
12     universities, and organizations supporting youth athletic teams and activities to allow
13     youth to wear religious clothing or headwear or to modify their uniforms to
14     accommodate religious beliefs or personal values of modesty without barriers or
15     limitations.
16     Highlighted Provisions:
17          This resolution:
18          ▸     acknowledges that all children and youth should have access to athletic teams and
19     activities without barriers and limitations; and
20          ▸     encourages all municipalities, public and private schools, and organizations that
21     support athletic teams and activities to revise internal policies and allow all children
22     and youth participating in athletic activities to wear religious clothing or headwear
23     or to modify their uniforms to accommodate religious beliefs and personal values of
24     modesty.
25     Special Clauses:
26          None
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28     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
29          WHEREAS, Utah's children and youth participate in team sports and other athletic
30     activities through municipal youth sports programs, public and private K-12 schools, colleges,
31     universities, leagues, and clubs;
32          WHEREAS, participating in athletic teams and activities has many positive benefits for
33     children and youth, like helping them develop friendships, develop leadership and teamwork
34     skills, improve academic performance, improve mental and physical health, learn
35     responsibility, and can lead to college scholarships and other enriching opportunities;
36          WHEREAS, if children and youth are excluded from athletic teams or activities at a
37     young age, many will be hesitant to seek these opportunities again and miss out on the benefits
38     and opportunities that would otherwise be available to them;
39          WHEREAS, children and youth who want to participate in athletic teams or activities
40     should have access to those opportunities from an early age without barriers or limitations;
41          WHEREAS, municipalities, schools, and organizations that support athletic teams and
42     activities should not use policies and practices that exclude children and youth who seek to
43     observe the tenants of their religion or personal values of modesty through their clothing from
44     participating, particularly with prohibitions against modifying uniforms to accommodate
45     religious clothing and headwear and making modesty adjustments to uniforms, or by making it
46     difficult to obtain permission to do so;
47          WHEREAS, over the past several years, many municipalities, states, and youth athletics
48     organizations across the country and in Utah have created policies to allow young athletes to
49     participate in athletic teams or activities while accommodating religious practices and beliefs
50     and personal values of modesty without needing uniform waivers; and
51          WHEREAS, all schools and organizations in the state have an opportunity to foster the
52     same inclusivity for all young athletes:
53          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
54     Governor concurring therein, encourages all municipalities, local education agencies, private
55     K-12 schools, colleges, universities, leagues, athletic associations, and clubs with youth athletic
56     teams or activities to evaluate and revise any policies and practices that prevent aspiring young
57     athletes from participating, particularly those that would prevent participants from wearing
58     religious clothing and headwear while participating, or prevent them from modifying athletic

59     uniforms to accommodate religious practices and beliefs or sincerely held values about
60     modesty.
61          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and Governor encourage the State
62     Board of Education and all local education agency governing boards to create policies allowing
63     students to modify athletic uniforms to accommodate their religious clothing, headwear,
64     practices and beliefs, or personal values of modesty without uniform waivers.
65          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and Governor commend all
66     organizations in the state that have proactively taken steps to allow children and youth
67     participating in athletic teams and activities to wear religious clothing and headwear or make
68     modesty adjustments to athletic uniforms, creating an inclusive environment for all of Utah's
69     aspiring young athletes.