# Title 15 — Education

## Chapter 15-10.6 — Athletic Team Participant Designation

### § 15-10.6-01. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:
1. "Institution" means an institution under the control of the state board of higher
education or a private institution of higher education whose athletic teams compete
against an institution under the control of the state board of higher education.
2. "Sex" means the biological state of being female or male, based on an individual's
nonambiguous sex organs, chromosomes, or endogenous hormone profile at birth.
3. "Student" means an individual enrolled in at least one course offered by an institution.
### § 15-10.6-02. Designation of athletic teams.

1. An intercollegiate or intramural athletic team or sport sponsored by an institution must
be expressly designated as one of the following based on the sex of the intended
participants:
a. "Males", "men", or "boys";
b. "Females", "women", or "girls"; or
c. "Coed" or "mixed".
2. An athletic team or sport designated for "females", "women", or "girls" may not be
open to students of the male sex.
3. This section may not be construed to restrict the eligibility of a student to participate in
interscholastic or intramural athletic teams or sports designated as "males", "men", or
"boys" or designated as "coed" or "mixed".
### § 15-10.6-03. Adverse action against institution prohibition.

A government entity, a licensing or accrediting organization, or an athletic association or
organization may not entertain a complaint, open an investigation, or take any other adverse
action against an institution for maintaining separate intercollegiate or intramural athletic teams
or sports for students of the female sex.
### § 15-10.6-04. Cause of action.

1. A student who is deprived of an athletic opportunity or who suffers direct or indirect
harm as a result of an institution knowingly violating this chapter has a private cause of
action for injunctive relief, damages, and any other relief available under law against
the institution.
2. A student subject to retaliation or other adverse action by an institution or athletic
association or organization as a result of reporting a violation of this chapter to an
employee or representative of the institution or athletic association or organization, or
to a state or federal agency with oversight of institutions in the state has a private
cause of action for injunctive relief, damages, and any other relief available under law
against the institution or athletic association or organization.
3. An institution that suffers direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of this chapter
has a private cause of action for injunctive relief, damages, and any other relief
available under law against the government entity, licensing or accrediting
organization, or athletic association or organization.
4. A civil action must be initiated within two years after the harm occurred. A person that
prevails on a claim brought pursuant to this section is entitled to monetary damages,
including for any psychological, emotional, and physical harm suffered, reasonable
attorneys' fees and costs, and any other appropriate relief.
