HB 569

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to athletic trainers; amending s. 468.707,
3	F.S.; revising the requirements for licensure as an
4	athletic trainer; amending s. 468.711, F.S.; revising the
5	criteria for continuing education in athletic training;
6	amending s. 468.723, F.S.; providing that a person
7	employed as an apprentice trainer or athletic trainer is
8	not exempt from part XIII of ch. 468, F.S.; amending s.
9	1012.46, F.S.; deleting the classification of first
10	responder in a school district's athletic injuries
11	prevention and treatment program; requiring that an
12	athletic trainer employed by a school district be licensed
13	as an athletic trainer; deleting a requirement that such
14	person possess certain certification as an educator;
15	providing an effective date.
16
17	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19	Section 1.  Subsection (1) of section 468.707, Florida
20	Statutes, is amended to read:
21	468.707  Licensure by examination; requirements.--
22	(1)  Any person desiring to be licensed as an athletic
23	trainer shall apply to the department on a form approved by the
24	department.
25	(a)  The department shall license each applicant who:
26	(a)1.  Has completed the application form and remitted the
27	required fees.
28	(b)2.  Is at least 21 years of age.
29	(c)3.  Has obtained a baccalaureate degree from a college
30	or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized and
31	approved by the United States Department of Education or the
32	Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, or
33	approved by the board.
34	(d)4.  Has completed an approved athletic training
35	curriculum coursework from a college or university accredited by
36	an accrediting agency recognized and approved by the United
37	States Department of Education or the Commission on Recognition
38	of Postsecondary Accreditation, or approved by the board, in
39	each of the following areas, as provided by rule: health, human
40	anatomy, kinesiology/biomechanics, human physiology, physiology
41	of exercise, basic athletic training, and advanced athletic
42	training.
43	(e)5.  Has current certification in standard first aid and
44	cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation from the American Red
45	Cross or an equivalent certification as determined by the board.
46	6.  Has, within 2 of the preceding 5 years, attained a
47	minimum of 800 hours of athletic training experience under the
48	direct supervision of a licensed athletic trainer or an athletic
49	trainer certified by the National Athletic Trainers' Association
50	or a comparable national athletic standards organization.
51	(f)7.  Has passed an examination administered or approved
52	by the board.
53	(b)  The department shall also license each applicant who:
54	1.  Has completed the application form and remitted the
55	required fees no later than October 1, 1996.
56	2.  Is at least 21 years of age.
57	3.  Has current certification in standard first aid and
58	cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation from the American Red
59	Cross or an equivalent certification as determined by the board.
60	4.a.  Has practiced athletic training for at least 3 of the
61	5 years preceding application; or
62	b.  Is currently certified by the National Athletic
63	Trainers' Association or a comparable national athletic
64	standards organization.
65	Section 2.  Section 468.711, Florida Statutes, is amended
66	to read:
67	468.711  Renewal of license; continuing education.--
68	(1)  The department shall renew a license upon receipt of
69	the renewal application and fee, provided the applicant is in
70	compliance with the provisions of this part, chapter 456, and
71	rules promulgated pursuant thereto.
72	(2)  The board may, by rule, prescribe continuing education
73	requirements, not to exceed 24 hours biennially.  The criteria
74	for continuing education shall be approved by the board and
75	shall include a current certificate in include 4 hours in
76	standard first aid and cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation
77	from the American Red Cross or equivalent training as determined
78	by the board.
79	(3)  Pursuant to the requirements of s. 456.034, each
80	licensee shall complete a continuing education course on human
81	immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome
82	as part of biennial relicensure.
83	Section 3.  Section 468.723, Florida Statutes, is amended
84	to read:
85	468.723  Exemptions.--Nothing in This part does not prevent
86	or restrict shall be construed as preventing or restricting:
87	(1)  The professional practice of a licensee of the
88	department who is acting within the scope of such practice.
89	(2)  An athletic training A student athletic trainer acting
90	under the direct supervision of a licensed athletic trainer.
91	(3)  A person employed as a teacher apprentice trainer I, a
92	teacher apprentice trainer II, or a teacher athletic trainer
93	under s. 1012.46.
94	(3)(4)  A person from administering standard first aid
95	treatment to an athlete.
96	(4)(5)  A person licensed under chapter 548, provided such
97	person is acting within the scope of such license.
98	(5)(6)  A person providing personal training instruction
99	for exercise, aerobics, or weightlifting, if the person does not
100	represent himself or herself as able to provide "athletic
101	trainer" services and if any recognition or treatment of
102	injuries is limited to the provision of first aid.
103	Section 4.  Section 1012.46, Florida Statutes, is amended
104	to read:
105	1012.46  Athletic trainers.--
106	(1)  School districts may establish and implement an
107	athletic injuries prevention and treatment program. Central to
108	this program should be the employment and availability of
109	persons trained in the prevention and treatment of physical
110	injuries that which may occur during athletic activities. The
111	program should reflect opportunities for progressive advancement
112	and compensation in employment as provided in subsection (2) and
113	meet certain other minimum standards developed by the Department
114	of Education. The goal of the Legislature is to have school
115	districts employ and have available a full-time teacher athletic
116	trainer in each high school in the state.
117	(2)  To the extent practicable, a school district program
118	should include the following employment classification and
119	advancement scheme:
120	(a)  First responder.--To qualify as a first responder, a
121	person must possess a professional, temporary, part-time,
122	adjunct, or substitute certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, be
123	certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, and have
124	15 semester hours in courses such as care and prevention of
125	athletic injuries, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, counseling,
126	and other similar courses approved by the Commissioner of
127	Education. This person may only administer first aid and similar
128	care.
129	(2)(b)  Teacher athletic trainer.--To qualify as an a
130	teacher athletic trainer, a person must be licensed as required
131	by part XIII of chapter 468 and may possess a professional,
132	temporary, part-time, adjunct, or substitute certificate
133	pursuant to s. 1012.35, s. 1012.56, or s. 1012.57, and be
134	licensed as required by part XIII of chapter 468.
135	Section 5.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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