Florida Senate - 2009                      CS for CS for SB 2066
       
       
       
       By the Committees on Education Pre-K - 12 Appropriations; and
       Education Pre-K - 12; and Senator Haridopolos
       
       
       
       602-05634-09                                          20092066c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to certification of public school
    3         athletic coaches; amending s. 1012.55, F.S.; providing
    4         that completion of a sports safety course shall meet
    5         certain certification requirements; requiring the
    6         sports safety course to be approved by the Florida
    7         High School Athletic Association Board of Directors
    8         and to meet specified requirements; providing an
    9         effective date.
   10  
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 1012.55, Florida
   14  Statutes, is amended to read:
   15         1012.55 Positions for which certificates required.—
   16         (2)(a) Each person who is employed and renders service as
   17  an athletic coach in any public school in any district of this
   18  state shall hold a valid temporary or professional certificate
   19  or an athletic coaching certificate. The athletic coaching
   20  certificate may be used for either part-time or full-time
   21  positions. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to any
   22  athletic coach who voluntarily renders service and who is not
   23  employed by any public school district of this state.
   24         (b) Completion of a sports safety course shall count for 6
   25  hours of required district in-service instruction for athletic
   26  coaching certification if the course is approved by the Florida
   27  High School Athletic Association Board of Directors and meets
   28  the following requirements:
   29         1. The course consists of at least eight modules.
   30         2. The course immediately provides an individual with a
   31  “merit” certificate at the time of successful completion.
   32         3. The course is delivered through hands-on and online
   33  teaching methods.
   34         4. A hands-on course is taught by a current Board of
   35  Certification-certified and state-licensed athletic trainer or a
   36  member of the American 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 health
   42  care professionals, including doctors of medicine, doctors of
   43  osteopathy, registered nurses, physical therapists, and
   44  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.