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SACRAMENTO – A bill that could help find out whether women’s athletic programs in California are meeting national requirements passed the Senate Tuesday. 

The bill, by Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, would require the state to study middle school, high school and post-secondary athletic programs to ensure girls have equal access to school sports. 

Title IX, a federal law which passed in 1972, bans gender discrimination in public schools. Since it passed, the number of girls participating in high school sports has jumped from just 295,000 to more than 2.7 million, according to the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, D.C. 

The measure passed the Senate in a 27-5 vote and returns to the Assembly for a vote on Senate amendments. 

If AB2295 becomes law, a final report would be expected by 2004 and would include recommendations to improve compliance with the law. 

Earlier this month, the Assembly formed a committee to study the issue.