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CS/CS/SB 178 — Athletics in Public K-12 Schools
by Judiciary Committee; Education Pre-K - 12 Committee; and Senator Jones
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 requires the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) to adopt bylaws authorizing head coaches of athletics teams to support the welfare of the students they coach using personal funds. Head coaches may, in good faith, provide assistance in the form of food, transportation, and recovery services. The bylaws must require a parent to provide written consent before a head coach may provide such assistance to a student. The bylaws must also restrict such use of funds to one head coach per athletic team.
The bill requires coaches who provide assistance using personal funds to report it to the FHSAA in a manner provided by FHSAA bylaw. If a coach uses personal funds, it is presumed not to be an impermissible benefit unless the use of personal funds is not reported, reported and deemed not to be in good faith by the FHSAA, or used for recruiting purposes.
The maximum amount of personal funds a coach may use per athletic team per year is $15,000.
The bill also authorizes any other organization governing interscholastic athletic competition in Florida to adopt similar bylaws.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor's signature, these provisions take effect on July 1, 2026.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 112-0