Lawmakers grilled officials from the Illinois High School Association at a hearing in Springfield. They are calling for more transparency from the not-for-profit group.
The IHSA is a private organization that runs most statewide athletic and academic competitions across the state.
But Democratic legislators say the organization makes its money from taxpayer-funded schools, and spends it on six-figure salaries for its top brass.
Marty Hickman, executive director of the IHSA, defends the group's mission, and says it basically breaks even.
"Most of our activities don't generate a nickel. Matter of fact, they lose money. We take revenue from the sports that do and fund scholastic bowl where we don't charge admission. We fund golf where we don't charge admission for boys and girls," Hickman said.
Media lobbying groups like the Illinois Press Association and Illinois Broadcasters Association have long clashed with the IHSA over access to high school sporting events. They want the IHSA to be subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Representative Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago, says he's worried about the de facto requirement to participate in IHSA, since the private organization makes money off its members. He says since most IHSA members are public high schools, the group's money comes from tax dollars, without much state oversight.
"It's a quasi-public entity that generates over $11 million every year," Dunkin said. "They should have a FOIA. If they're benefiting from public — the contracts we should see, the relationships, absolutely, what's wrong with that?"
Hickman says the organization's current level of transparency aligns with other not-for-profits, known as 501(c)(3)s.
"I don't see there's any reason for IHSA specifically to act differently than any other 501(c)(3)," Hickman said.
Asked whether he's against putting IHSA under more direct state jurisdiction, Hickman would not say.