CS/CS/HB 1539

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


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