| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to certification of public school athletic |
| 3 | coaches; amending s. 1012.55, F.S.; providing that |
| 4 | completion of a sports safety course shall meet certain |
| 5 | inservice certification requirements; requiring the sports |
| 6 | safety course to be approved by the Florida High School |
| 7 | Athletic Association Board of Directors and to meet |
| 8 | specified requirements; providing an effective date. |
| 9 |
|
| 10 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 11 |
|
| 12 | Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 1012.55, Florida |
| 13 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 14 | 1012.55 Positions for which certificates required.-- |
| 15 | (2)(a) Each person who is employed and renders service as |
| 16 | an athletic coach in any public school in any district of this |
| 17 | state shall hold a valid temporary or professional certificate |
| 18 | or an athletic coaching certificate. The athletic coaching |
| 19 | certificate may be used for either part-time or full-time |
| 20 | positions. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to any |
| 21 | athletic coach who voluntarily renders service and who is not |
| 22 | employed by any public school district of this state. |
| 23 | (b) Completion of a sports safety course shall count for 6 |
| 24 | hours of required school district inservice instruction for |
| 25 | athletic coaching certification if the course is approved by the |
| 26 | Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors and |
| 27 | meets the following requirements: |
| 28 | 1. The course consists of at least eight modules. |
| 29 | 2. The course immediately provides an individual with a |
| 30 | "merit" certificate at the time of successful completion. |
| 31 | 3. The course is delivered through hands-on and online |
| 32 | teaching methods. |
| 33 | 4. The course is a hands-on course taught by either a |
| 34 | state-licensed athletic trainer who holds a current certificate |
| 35 | from the Board of Certification or a member of the American |
| 36 | Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. |
| 37 | 5. Hands-on course material is less than 120 pages. |
| 38 | 6. The course covers sports safety specifically, excluding |
| 39 | coaching principles and procedures for cardiopulmonary |
| 40 | resuscitation. |
| 41 | 7. The course is authored or approved by at least 10 |
| 42 | health care professionals, including doctors of medicine, |
| 43 | doctors of osteopathy, registered nurses, physical therapists, |
| 44 | and certified athletic trainers. |
| 45 | 8. The course is revised and reviewed for updates at least |
| 46 | once every 30 months. |
| 47 | 9. The course is available to the general public for a |
| 48 | retail price under $50. |
| 49 | 10. Each course examination is automated and taken online |
| 50 | with a score of 80 percent or better for successful completion. |
| 51 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009. |