Downloads
CS/CS/HB 225 — Interscholastic and Intrascholastic Activities
by Education and Employment Committee; Education Quality Subcommittee; and Reps. Hawkins, Canady, and others (CS/CS/SB 308 by Rules Committee; Education Pre-K - 12 Committee; and Senators Collins, Grall, and Perry)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Education Pre-K -12 Committee (ED)
The bill authorizes charter school and Florida Virtual School (FLVS) students to develop an agreement with a private school to allow a student to participate in an interscholastic extracurricular activity at that private school.
The bill authorizes traditional public school students to participate in an interscholastic extracurricular activity at a public school in the district or develop an agreement to participate at a private school, if the public school does not offer the activity. Students must meet specified standards at the receiving school and must register with the school.
The bill modifies the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) program for private school students to participate in an interscholastic extracurricular activity at a public school to clarify that participation is at an FHSAA member public or private school. Also, the bill increases the non-FHSAA member private school enrollment threshold from 125 to 200 students or fewer to be eligible to participate.
The bill authorizes a student who transfers from a public school to continue to participate in activities at the former school for the rest of the school year.
The bill modifies FHSAA operations, which:
- Requires the FHSAA to allow a school that joins the association by sport to participate in the FHSAA championship contest or series for that sport.
- Requires the State Board of Education to ratify FHSAA bylaws, the hiring of an executive director, and FHSAA budget.
- Revises the composition of the membership of the FHSAA board of directors (board) from 16 to 13 members, 8 of whom are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate; and 4 members from public and private schools elected from the public and private school representatives.
- Removes the requirement that the appointing authority of members of the FHSAA board of directors makes recommendations to reflect state demographic and population trends.
- Establishes legislative authority with the FHSAA board, and requires a majority vote of the board for the approval of legislative recommendations of the representative assembly.
Additionally, the bill requires certain athletic associations to adopt policies or procedures allowing opening remarks at championship events with specified conditions for those remarks.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2023.
Vote: Senate 28-12; House 93-22