February 9, 2012

Legislation that would let home-schooled Virginia children play on varsity teams of public schools they don't attend has won final House passage.

The 'Tim Tebow bill', HB947, cleared the House and advances to the Senate after a 59-39 vote Wednesday.

After the vote, the bill's sponsor, Albemarle Republican Del. Rob Bell, took to the House's center aisle and "Tebowed," striking the prayerful, one-knee touchdown celebration made famous by the Denver Broncos quarterback whose name the measure borrows.

Tebow played on public high school teams as a Florida homeschooler before winning a Heisman Trophy and leading the University of Florida to the 2008 national college football championship.

Opponents say it subjects public school student-athletes to rigorous academic and class attendance standards that can't be monitored or don't apply to homeschoolers.