Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed into law a bipartisan measure, Assembly Bill 81, that ensures that foster children who are forced to change schools due to a court-ordered family transfer are eligible to participate in varsity sports.

The bill passed both the Senate and Assembly with all “yes” votes.

Existing California Interscholastic Federation bylaws require foster children to submit hardship waivers before they are eligible to play. These policies were challenged in court after a football team was forced to forfeit in the middle of their season because a foster youth joined the team after transferring schools due to a courtordered family change.

The bill was authored by Assemblymember Audra Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks).