HB 1061

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to athletic trainers; amending s. 468.701,
3	F.S.; revising definitions; expanding the scope of
4	"athletic activity" and "athletic training"; amending s.
5	468.707, F.S.; revising licensure requirements; removing a
6	provision requiring specific coursework; removing a
7	provision requiring standard first aid certification;
8	removing a provision requiring supervised athletic
9	training experience; removing an obsolete provision;
10	amending s. 468.711, F.S.; removing a provision requiring
11	continuing education in standard first aid; amending s.
12	468.717, F.S.; revising a ground for punishment relating
13	to practicing without a license; providing penalties;
14	amending s. 468.723, F.S.; removing an exemption provision
15	relating to teacher apprentice trainers and teacher
16	athletic trainers; amending s. 1012.46, F.S.; providing
17	for the replacement of teacher athletic trainers by
18	athletic trainers licensed pursuant to part XIII of ch.
19	468; providing that a first responder may not hold himself
20	or herself out as an athletic trainer if not licensed
21	pursuant to part XIII of ch. 468; providing an effective
22	date.
23
24	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26	Section 1.  Subsections (2) and (5) of section 468.701,
27	Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
28	468.701  Definitions.--As used in this part, the term:
29	(2)  "Athletic activity" means the participation in an
30	activity, conducted by an educational institution, a
31	professional athletic organization, or an amateur athletic
32	organization, involving exercises, sports, games, or recreation
33	requiring any of the physical attributes of strength, agility,
34	flexibility, range of motion, speed, and stamina.
35	(5)  "Athletic training" means the recognition, prevention,
36	and treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries.
37	Section 2.  Subsection (1) of section 468.707, Florida
38	Statutes, is amended to read:
39	468.707  Licensure by examination; requirements.--
40	(1)  Any person desiring to be licensed as an athletic
41	trainer shall apply to the department on a form approved by the
42	department.
43	(a)  The department shall license each applicant who:
44	(a)1.  Has completed the application form and remitted the
45	required fees.
46	(b)2.  Is at least 21 years of age.
47	(c)3.  Has obtained a baccalaureate degree from a college
48	or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized and
49	approved by the United States Department of Education or the
50	Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, or
51	approved by the board.
52	4.  Has completed coursework from a college or university
53	accredited by an accrediting agency recognized and approved by
54	the United States Department of Education or the Commission on
55	Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, or approved by the
56	board, in each of the following areas, as provided by rule:
57	health, human anatomy, kinesiology/biomechanics, human
58	physiology, physiology of exercise, basic athletic training, and
59	advanced athletic training.
60	(d)5.  Has current certification in standard first aid and
61	cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation from the American Red
62	Cross or an equivalent certification as determined by the board.
63	6.  Has, within 2 of the preceding 5 years, attained a
64	minimum of 800 hours of athletic training experience under the
65	direct supervision of a licensed athletic trainer or an athletic
66	trainer certified by the National Athletic Trainers' Association
67	or a comparable national athletic standards organization.
68	(e)7.  Has passed an examination administered or approved
69	by the board.
70	(b)  The department shall also license each applicant who:
71	1.  Has completed the application form and remitted the
72	required fees no later than October 1, 1996.
73	2.  Is at least 21 years of age.
74	3.  Has current certification in standard first aid and
75	cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation from the American Red
76	Cross or an equivalent certification as determined by the board.
77	4.a.  Has practiced athletic training for at least 3 of the
78	5 years preceding application; or
79	b.  Is currently certified by the National Athletic
80	Trainers' Association or a comparable national athletic
81	standards organization.
82	Section 3.  Subsection (2) of section 468.711, Florida
83	Statutes, is amended to read:
84	468.711  Renewal of license; continuing education.--
85	(2)  The board may, by rule, prescribe continuing education
86	requirements, not to exceed 24 hours biennially. The criteria
87	for continuing education shall be approved by the board and
88	shall include certification in 4 hours in standard first aid and
89	cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation from the American Red
90	Cross or equivalent training as determined by the board.
91	Section 4.  Subsection (1) of section 468.717, Florida
92	Statutes, is amended to read:
93	468.717  Violations and penalties.--Each of the following
94	acts constitutes a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable
95	as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083:
96	(1)  Practicing athletic training for compensation without
97	holding an active license under this part.
98	Section 5.  Section 468.723, Florida Statutes, is amended
99	to read:
100	468.723  Exemptions.--Nothing in this part shall be
101	construed as preventing or restricting:
102	(1)  The professional practice of a licensee of the
103	department who is acting within the scope of such practice.
104	(2)  An athletic training student A student athletic
105	trainer acting under the direct supervision of a licensed
106	athletic trainer.
107	(3)  A person employed as a teacher apprentice trainer I, a
108	teacher apprentice trainer II, or a teacher athletic trainer
109	under s. 1012.46.
110	(3)(4)  A person from administering standard first aid
111	treatment to an athlete.
112	(4)(5)  A person licensed under chapter 548, provided such
113	person is acting within the scope of such license.
114	(5)(6)  A person providing personal training instruction
115	for exercise, aerobics, or weightlifting, if the person does not
116	represent himself or herself as able to provide "athletic
117	trainer" services and if any recognition or treatment of
118	injuries is limited to the provision of first aid.
119	Section 6.  Section 1012.46, Florida Statutes, is amended
120	to read:
121	1012.46  Athletic trainers.--
122	(1)  School districts may establish and implement an
123	athletic injuries prevention and treatment program. Central to
124	this program should be the employment and availability of
125	persons trained in the prevention and treatment of physical
126	injuries which may occur during athletic activities. The program
127	should reflect opportunities for progressive advancement and
128	compensation in employment as provided in subsection (2) and
129	meet certain other minimum standards developed by the Department
130	of Education. The goal of the Legislature is to have school
131	districts employ and have available a full-time teacher athletic
132	trainer in each high school in the state.
133	(2)  To the extent practicable, a school district program
134	should include the following employment classification and
135	advancement scheme:
136	(a)  First responder.--To qualify as a first responder, a
137	person must possess a professional, temporary, part-time,
138	adjunct, or substitute certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, be
139	certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, and have
140	15 semester hours in courses such as care and prevention of
141	athletic injuries, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, counseling,
142	and other similar courses approved by the Commissioner of
143	Education. This person may only administer first aid and similar
144	care and shall not hold himself or herself out to the school
145	district or public as an athletic trainer if he or she is not
146	licensed under part XIII of chapter 468.
147	(b)  Teacher Athletic trainer.--To qualify as an a teacher
148	athletic trainer, a person must be licensed under part XIII of
149	chapter 468. An athletic trainer may be utilized by the school
150	district as a teacher if he or she possesses possess a
151	professional, temporary, part-time, adjunct, or substitute
152	certificate pursuant to s. 1012.35, s. 1012.56 or s. 1012.57,
153	and be licensed as required by part XIII of chapter 468.
154	Section 7.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.