The Florida Senate

232.435  Extracurricular athletic activities; athletic trainers.--

(1)  The Legislature recognizes the importance of extracurricular activities as a complement to the academic curriculum. Participation in a comprehensive extracurricular and academic program contributes to student development of the social and intellectual skills necessary to become a well-rounded adult. It is the intent of the Legislature that student safety and welfare be the foremost consideration in the conduct of these programs, and, in particular, that athletic programs be conducted with special attention to the prevention of physical injuries, minimization of severe injuries, and prevention of a recurrence of injuries.

(2)  The Legislature hereby encourages each school district to establish and implement an athletic injuries prevention and treatment program. Central to this program should be the employment and availability of persons trained in the prevention and treatment of physical injuries which may occur during athletic activities. The program should reflect opportunities for progressive advancement and compensation in employment as provided in subsection (3) and meet certain other minimum standards developed by the Department of Education pursuant to paragraph (4)(c). The goal of the Legislature is to have school districts employ and have available a full-time teacher athletic trainer in each high school in the state.

(3)  To the extent practicable, a school district program should include the following employment classification and advancement scheme:

(a)  First responder.--To qualify as a first responder, a person must possess a professional, temporary, part-time, adjunct, or substitute certificate pursuant to ¹s. 231.17, be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, and have 15 semester hours in courses such as care and prevention of athletic injuries, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, counseling, and other similar courses approved by the Commissioner of Education. This person may only administer first aid and similar care.

(b)  Teacher athletic trainer.--To qualify as a teacher athletic trainer, a person must possess a professional, temporary, part-time, adjunct, or substitute certificate pursuant to s. 232.17, and be licensed as required by part XIII of chapter 468.

(4)  The Department of Education shall have the following responsibilities:

(a)  To provide technical assistance to school districts seeking assistance in developing and implementing an athletic injuries prevention and treatment program.

(b)  To singly, or collectively with school districts, develop and implement one or more inservice education programs in conjunction with teacher education centers, vocational-technical centers, community colleges, or state universities that assist instructional personnel in the attainment of standards required for designation as a teacher athletic trainer. Such programs may be conducted at the district, regional, or state level.

(c)  To recommend minimum standards for developing and implementing an athletic injuries prevention and treatment program.

History.--s. 1, ch. 88-257; s. 15, ch. 95-388; s. 121, ch. 97-190; s. 10, ch. 99-349; s. 63, ch. 99-397; s. 21, ch. 2001-47; s. 61, ch. 2001-277.

¹Note.--As amended by s. 61, ch. 2001-277. Section 21, ch. 2001-47, also amended paragraph (3)(a), and added a reference to newly created s. 231.1726 with the cite to s. 231.17 in the material relating to the teacher apprentice trainer I classification that was stricken by s. 61, ch. 2001-277.