Florida Senate - 2025 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 248
Ì8883809Î888380
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: WD .
04/01/2025 .
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The Committee on Rules (Simon) recommended the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Section 1006.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to
6 read:
7 1006.15 Student standards for participation in
8 interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular student
9 activities; regulation.—
10 (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the “Craig
11 Dickinson Act.”
12 (2) DETERMINATION.—Interscholastic extracurricular student
13 activities are an important complement to the academic
14 curriculum. Participation in a comprehensive extracurricular and
15 academic program contributes to student development of the
16 social and intellectual skills necessary to become a well
17 rounded adult. When determining whether a school offers an
18 activity or sport, the activity or sport must be in the same
19 designation required by s. 1006.205(3)(a) As used in this
20 section, the term “extracurricular” means any school-authorized
21 or education-related activity occurring during or outside the
22 regular instructional school day.
23 (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section and in s. 1006.20,
24 the term:
25 (a) “Eligible student” includes home education students,
26 charter school students, private school students, Florida
27 Virtual School students, alternative school students, and
28 traditional public school students who wish to participate in an
29 interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity.
30 (b)1.(3)(a) As used in this section and s. 1006.20, the
31 term “Eligible to participate” includes, but is not limited to,
32 a student participating in:
33 a. Tryouts.,
34 b. Off-season conditioning.,
35 c. Summer workouts.,
36 d. Preseason conditioning.,
37 e. In-season practice.,
38 f. or Contests.
39 2. The term does not mean that a student must be placed on
40 any specific team for interscholastic or intrascholastic
41 extracurricular activities. To be eligible to participate in
42 interscholastic extracurricular student activities, a student
43 must:
44 a.1. Maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or above on a
45 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the previous semester or a
46 cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0 scale,
47 or its equivalent, in the courses required by s. 1002.3105(5) or
48 s. 1003.4282.
49 b.2. Execute and fulfill the requirements of an academic
50 performance contract between the student, the district school
51 board, the appropriate governing association, and the student’s
52 parents, if the student’s cumulative grade point average falls
53 below 2.0, or its equivalent, on a 4.0 scale in the courses
54 required by s. 1002.3105(5) or s. 1003.4282. At a minimum, the
55 contract must require that the student attend summer school, or
56 its graded equivalent, between grades 9 and 10 or grades 10 and
57 11, as necessary.
58 c.3. Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above
59 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the courses required by s.
60 1002.3105(5) or s. 1003.4282 during his or her junior or senior
61 year.
62 d.4. Maintain satisfactory conduct, including adherence to
63 appropriate dress and other codes of student conduct policies
64 described in s. 1006.07(2). If a student is convicted of, or is
65 found to have committed, a felony or a delinquent act that would
66 have been a felony if committed by an adult, regardless of
67 whether adjudication is withheld, the student’s participation in
68 interscholastic extracurricular activities is contingent upon
69 established and published district school board policy.
70 3.(b) Any student who is exempt from attending a full
71 school day based on rules adopted by the district school board
72 for double session schools or programs, experimental schools, or
73 schools operating under emergency conditions must maintain the
74 grade point average required by this section and pass each class
75 for which he or she is enrolled.
76 (c) “Extracurricular” means any school-authorized or
77 education-related activity occurring during or outside the
78 regular instructional school day.
79 (4) ELIGIBILITY.—
80 (a)(c) A An individual home education student is eligible
81 to participate in an interscholastic or intrascholastic
82 extracurricular activity at the school he or she attends.
83 1. An eligible student may participate at a school other
84 than the school in which the student is enrolled if the school
85 in which the student is enrolled does not offer the same
86 interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity.
87 2. A student may participate at a school in which he or she
88 is not currently enrolled if the school is one the student would
89 otherwise be zoned for or, for home education students, the
90 student participates as part of a team of home education
91 cooperatives.
92 (b) If the school for which the student would otherwise be
93 zoned for does not offer the interscholastic or intrascholastic
94 extracurricular activity, the student may participate at any
95 public school appropriate for the student’s grade level,
96 including charter schools, in the school district in which the
97 student resides, or at any private school appropriate for the
98 student’s grade level, in the school district in which the
99 student resides, if an agreement is made with the private
100 school.
101 (c) If a school in the district in which the student
102 resides does not offer the interscholastic or intrascholastic
103 extracurricular activity, or an agreement cannot be reached with
104 a private school in the district in which the student resides,
105 the student may participate at a public school appropriate for
106 the student’s grade level, including a charter school, outside
107 of his or her district, or at a private school appropriate for
108 the student’s grade level, outside of his or her district, if an
109 agreement is made with the private school. The school must be in
110 a district adjacent to the district in which the student
111 resides. at the public school to which the student would be
112 assigned according to district school board attendance area
113 policies or which the student could choose to attend pursuant to
114 s. 1002.31, or may develop an agreement to participate at a
115 private school, in the interscholastic extracurricular
116 activities of that school, provided the following conditions are
117 met:
118 1. The home education student must meet the requirements of
119 the home education program pursuant to s. 1002.41.
120 2. During the period of participation at a school, the home
121 education student must demonstrate educational progress as
122 required in paragraph (b) in all subjects taken in the home
123 education program by a method of evaluation agreed upon by the
124 parent and the school principal which may include: review of the
125 student’s work by a certified teacher chosen by the parent;
126 grades earned through correspondence; grades earned in courses
127 taken at a Florida College System institution, university, or
128 trade school; standardized test scores above the 35th
129 percentile; or any other method designated in s. 1002.41.
130 3. The home education student must meet the same residency
131 requirements as other students in the school at which he or she
132 participates.
133 4. The home education student must meet the same standards
134 of acceptance, behavior, and performance as required of other
135 students in extracurricular activities.
136 5. The student must register with the school his or her
137 intent to participate in interscholastic extracurricular
138 activities as a representative of the school before
139 participation. A home education student must be able to
140 participate in curricular activities if that is a requirement
141 for an extracurricular activity.
142 6. A student who transfers from a home education program to
143 a public school before or during the first grading period of the
144 school year is academically eligible to participate in
145 interscholastic extracurricular activities during the first
146 grading period provided the student has a successful evaluation
147 from the previous school year, pursuant to subparagraph 2.
148 7. Any public school or private school student who has been
149 unable to maintain academic eligibility for participation in
150 interscholastic extracurricular activities is ineligible to
151 participate in such activities as a home education student until
152 the student has successfully completed one grading period in
153 home education pursuant to subparagraph 2. to become eligible to
154 participate as a home education student.
155 (d) An individual charter school student pursuant to s.
156 1002.33 is eligible to participate at the public school to which
157 the student would be assigned according to district school board
158 attendance area policies or which the student could attend, or
159 may develop an agreement to participate at a private school, in
160 any interscholastic extracurricular activity of that school,
161 unless such activity is provided by the student’s charter
162 school, if the following conditions are met:
163 1. The charter school student must meet the requirements of
164 the charter school education program as determined by the
165 charter school governing board.
166 2. During the period of participation at a school, the
167 charter school student must demonstrate educational progress as
168 required in paragraph (b).
169 3. The charter school student must meet the same residency
170 requirements as other students in the school at which he or she
171 participates.
172 4. The charter school student must meet the same standards
173 of acceptance, behavior, and performance that are required of
174 other students in extracurricular activities.
175 5. The charter school student must register with the school
176 his or her intent to participate in interscholastic
177 extracurricular activities as a representative of the school
178 before participation. A charter school student must be able to
179 participate in curricular activities if that is a requirement
180 for an extracurricular activity.
181 6. A student who transfers from a charter school program to
182 a traditional public school before or during the first grading
183 period of the school year is academically eligible to
184 participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities during
185 the first grading period if the student has a successful
186 evaluation from the previous school year pursuant to
187 subparagraph 2.
188 7. Any public school or private school student who has been
189 unable to maintain academic eligibility for participation in
190 interscholastic extracurricular activities is ineligible to
191 participate in such activities as a charter school student until
192 the student has successfully completed one grading period in a
193 charter school pursuant to subparagraph 2. to become eligible to
194 participate as a charter school student.
195 (e) A student of the Florida Virtual School full-time
196 program may participate in any interscholastic extracurricular
197 activity at the public school to which the student would be
198 assigned according to district school board attendance area
199 policies or which the student could choose to attend pursuant to
200 s. 1002.31, or may develop an agreement to participate at a
201 private school, if the student:
202 1. During the period of participation in the
203 interscholastic extracurricular activity, meets the requirements
204 in paragraph (a).
205 2. Meets any additional requirements as determined by the
206 board of trustees of the Florida Virtual School.
207 3. Meets the same residency requirements as other students
208 in the school at which he or she participates.
209 4. Meets the same standards of acceptance, behavior, and
210 performance that are required of other students in
211 extracurricular activities.
212 5. Registers his or her intent to participate in
213 interscholastic extracurricular activities with the school
214 before participation. A Florida Virtual school student must be
215 able to participate in curricular activities if that is a
216 requirement for an extracurricular activity.
217 (f) A student who transfers from the Florida Virtual School
218 full-time program to a traditional public school before or
219 during the first grading period of the school year is
220 academically eligible to participate in interscholastic
221 extracurricular activities during the first grading period if
222 the student has a successful evaluation from the previous school
223 year pursuant to paragraph (a).
224 (g) A public school or private school student who has been
225 unable to maintain academic eligibility for participation in
226 interscholastic extracurricular activities is ineligible to
227 participate in such activities as a Florida Virtual School
228 student until the student successfully completes one grading
229 period in the Florida Virtual School pursuant to paragraph (a).
230 (h) An individual traditional public school student who is
231 otherwise eligible to participate in interscholastic
232 extracurricular activities may either participate in any such
233 activity at any public school in the school district in which
234 the student resides or develop an agreement to participate in
235 such activity at a private school, unless the activity is
236 provided by the student’s traditional public school. Such
237 student must:
238 1. Meet the same standards of acceptance, behavior, and
239 performance that are required of other students in
240 extracurricular activities at the school at which the student
241 wishes to participate.
242 2. Before participation, register with the school his or
243 her intent to participate in interscholastic extracurricular
244 activities as a representative of the school. The student must
245 be able to participate in curricular activities if that is a
246 requirement for an extracurricular activity.
247 (i)1. A school district or charter school may not delay
248 eligibility or otherwise prevent a student participating in
249 controlled open enrollment, or a choice program, from being
250 immediately eligible to participate in interscholastic and
251 intrascholastic extracurricular activities.
252 2. A student may not participate in a sport if the student
253 participated in that same sport at another school during that
254 school year, unless the student meets one of the following
255 criteria:
256 a. Dependent children of active duty military personnel
257 whose move resulted from military orders.
258 b. Children who have been relocated due to a foster care
259 placement in a different school zone.
260 c. Children who move due to a court-ordered change in
261 custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or
262 death of a custodial parent.
263 d. Authorized for good cause in district or charter school
264 policy.
265 (5) BEGINNING APPLICABILITY.—(4) The student standards for
266 participation in interscholastic extracurricular activities must
267 be applied beginning with the student’s first semester of the
268 9th grade. Each student must meet such other requirements for
269 participation as may be established by the district school
270 board; however, a district school board may not establish
271 requirements for participation in interscholastic
272 extracurricular activities which make participation in such
273 activities less accessible to home education students than to
274 other students. Except as set forth in paragraph (3)(c),
275 evaluation processes or requirements that are placed on home
276 education student participants may not go beyond those that
277 apply under s. 1002.41 to home education students generally.
278 (6) REGULATING OR GOVERNING ORGANIZATIONS.—
279 (5) Any organization or entity that regulates or governs
280 interscholastic extracurricular activities of public schools:
281 (a) Shall permit home education associations to join as
282 member schools.
283 (b) Shall not discriminate against any eligible student
284 based on an educational choice of public, private, or home
285 education.
286 (c) Shall adopt bylaws to ensure, to the maximum extent
287 possible, that students have access to interscholastic or
288 intrascholastic extracurricular activities without limitation on
289 their educational choice options.
290 (7) PROHIBITED MEMBERSHIPS.—(6) Public schools are
291 prohibited from membership in any organization or entity which
292 regulates or governs interscholastic extracurricular activities
293 and discriminates against eligible students in public, private,
294 or home education.
295 (8) INSURANCE.—(7) Any insurance provided by district
296 school boards for participants in extracurricular activities
297 shall cover any eligible student the participating home
298 education student. If there is an additional premium for such
299 coverage, the participating home education student shall pay the
300 premium.
301 (8)(a) The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)
302 shall, in cooperation with each district school board and its
303 member private schools, facilitate a program in which a middle
304 school or high school student who attends a private school is
305 eligible to participate in an interscholastic or intrascholastic
306 sport at a member public high school, a member public middle
307 school, a member 6-12 public school, or a member private school,
308 as appropriate for the private school student’s grade level, if:
309 1. The private school in which the student is enrolled is
310 not a member of the FHSAA.
311 2. The private school student meets the guidelines for the
312 conduct of the program established by the FHSAA’s board of
313 directors and the district school board or member private
314 school. At a minimum, such guidelines must provide a deadline
315 for each sport by which the private school student’s parents
316 must register with the member school in writing their intent for
317 their child to participate at that school in the sport.
318 (b) The parents of a private school student participating
319 in a member school sport under this subsection are responsible
320 for transporting their child to and from the member school at
321 which the student participates. The private school the student
322 attends, the member school at which the student participates in
323 a sport, the district school board, and the FHSAA are exempt
324 from civil liability arising from any injury that occurs to the
325 student during such transportation.
326 (c) For each academic year, a private school student may
327 only participate at the member school in which the student is
328 first registered under subparagraph (a)2. or makes himself or
329 herself a candidate for an athletic team by engaging in a
330 practice.
331 (9) SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES.—
332 (a)(d) The athletic director of each participating Florida
333 High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) FHSAA member school
334 shall maintain the student records necessary for eligibility,
335 compliance, and participation for all eligible students
336 participating in interscholastic or intrascholastic
337 extracurricular activities at the member school in the program.
338 (b)(e) Any non-FHSAA member private school that has a
339 student who wishes to participate in interscholastic or
340 intrascholastic extracurricular activities at another school
341 this program must make all student records, including, but not
342 limited to, academic, financial, disciplinary, and attendance
343 records, available upon request of the FHSAA.
344 (c)(f) A student must apply to participate in an
345 interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity at a
346 school other than the school in which the student is enrolled
347 this program through the FHSAA program application process, as
348 provided for in FHSAA bylaws.
349 (d) The parents of the student participating in the
350 activity must provide for the transportation of the student to
351 and from the school at which the student participates. The
352 school in which the student is enrolled, the school at which the
353 student participates in the activity, and the district school
354 board are exempt from civil liability arising from any injury
355 that occurs to the student during such transportation.
356 (10) STUDENT TRANSFERS.—A student may not participate in a
357 sport if the student participated in that same sport at another
358 school during that school year, unless granted approval by the
359 FHSAA executive director.
360 (a) The FHSAA must provide a determination of eligibility
361 to the otherwise eligible student within 14 days after such a
362 request is made.
363 (b) The FHSAA must adopt bylaws establishing the criteria
364 used in determination of eligibility of students pursuant to
365 this subsection.
366 (c) A student who was denied eligibility may appeal the
367 decision from the FHSAA pursuant to s. 1006.20(7). The FHSAA
368 must adopt bylaws establishing a timeline for appeals that may
369 not exceed 20 days.
370 (d) Decisions made by the committee on appeals, the
371 executive director, or his or her designee, and the FHSAA board
372 of directors must be posted online in a searchable format and in
373 compliance with ss. 1002.22 and 1002.221.
374 (11) RULEMAKING.—The FHSAA may adopt additional bylaws to
375 implement this section.
376 (g) Only students who are enrolled in non-FHSAA member
377 private schools consisting of 200 students or fewer are eligible
378 to participate in the program in any given academic year.
379 (9)(a) A student who transfers to a school during the
380 school year may seek to immediately join an existing team if the
381 roster for the specific interscholastic or intrascholastic
382 extracurricular activity has not reached the activity’s
383 identified maximum size and if the coach for the activity
384 determines that the student has the requisite skill and ability
385 to participate. The FHSAA and school district or charter school
386 may not declare such a student ineligible because the student
387 did not have the opportunity to comply with qualifying
388 requirements.
389 (b) A student may not participate in a sport if the student
390 participated in that same sport at another school during that
391 school year, unless the student meets one of the following
392 criteria:
393 1. Dependent children of active duty military personnel
394 whose move resulted from military orders.
395 2. Children who have been relocated due to a foster care
396 placement in a different school zone.
397 3. Children who move due to a court-ordered change in
398 custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or
399 death of a custodial parent.
400 4. Authorized for good cause in district or charter school
401 policy.
402 (10) A student who participates in an interscholastic or
403 intrascholastic activity at a public school and who transfers
404 from that school during the school year must be allowed to
405 continue to participate in the activity at that school for the
406 remainder of the school year if:
407 (a) During the period of participation in the activity, the
408 student continues to meet the requirements specified in
409 paragraph (3)(a).
410 (b) The student continues to meet the same standards of
411 acceptance, behavior, and performance which are required of
412 other students participating in the activity, except for
413 enrollment requirements at the school at which the student
414 participates.
415 (c) The parents of the student participating in the
416 activity provide for the transportation of the student to and
417 from the school at which the student participates. The school
418 the student attends, the school at which the student
419 participates in the activity, and the district school board are
420 exempt from civil liability arising from any injury that occurs
421 to the student during such transportation.
422 Section 2. Subsection (11) of section 1002.33, Florida
423 Statutes, is amended to read:
424 1002.33 Charter schools.—
425 (11) PARTICIPATION IN INTERSCHOLASTIC EXTRACURRICULAR
426 ACTIVITIES.—A charter school student is eligible to participate
427 in an interscholastic extracurricular activity at the public
428 school to which the student would be otherwise assigned to
429 attend, or may develop an agreement to participate at a private
430 school, pursuant to s. 1006.15 s. 1006.15(3)(d).
431 Section 3. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of
432 section 1006.195, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
433 1006.195 District school board, charter school authority
434 and responsibility to establish student eligibility regarding
435 participation in interscholastic and intrascholastic
436 extracurricular activities.—Notwithstanding any provision to the
437 contrary in ss. 1006.15, 1006.18, and 1006.20, regarding student
438 eligibility to participate in interscholastic and
439 intrascholastic extracurricular activities:
440 (1)(a) A district school board must establish, through its
441 code of student conduct, student eligibility standards and
442 related student disciplinary actions regarding student
443 participation in interscholastic and intrascholastic
444 extracurricular activities. The code of student conduct must
445 provide that:
446 1. A student not currently suspended from interscholastic
447 or intrascholastic extracurricular activities, or suspended or
448 expelled from school, pursuant to a district school board’s
449 suspension or expulsion powers provided in law, including ss.
450 1006.07, 1006.08, and 1006.09, is eligible to participate in
451 interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular activities.
452 2. A student may not participate in a sport if the student
453 participated in that same sport at another school during that
454 school year, unless the student meets the criteria in s. 1006.15
455 s. 1006.15(3)(i).
456 3. A student’s eligibility to participate in any
457 interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity may
458 not be affected by any alleged recruiting violation until final
459 disposition of the allegation pursuant to s. 1006.20(2)(b).
460 (b) Students who participate in interscholastic and
461 intrascholastic extracurricular activities for, but are not
462 enrolled in, a public school pursuant to s. 1006.15 s.
463 1006.15(3)(c)-(e) and (8), are subject to the district school
464 board’s code of student conduct for the limited purpose of
465 establishing and maintaining the student’s eligibility to
466 participate at the school.
467 Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
468 1006.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
469 1006.20 Athletics in public K-12 schools.—
470 (2) ADOPTION OF BYLAWS, POLICIES, OR GUIDELINES.—
471 (c) The FHSAA shall adopt bylaws that require all students
472 participating in interscholastic athletic competition or who are
473 candidates for an interscholastic athletic team to
474 satisfactorily pass a medical evaluation each year before
475 participating in interscholastic athletic competition or
476 engaging in any practice, tryout, workout, conditioning, or
477 other physical activity associated with the student’s candidacy
478 for an interscholastic athletic team, including activities that
479 occur outside of the school year. Such medical evaluation may be
480 administered only by a practitioner licensed under chapter 458,
481 chapter 459, chapter 460, or s. 464.012 or registered under s.
482 464.0123 and in good standing with the practitioner’s regulatory
483 board. The bylaws shall establish requirements for eliciting a
484 student’s medical history and performing the medical evaluation
485 required under this paragraph, which shall include a physical
486 assessment of the student’s physical capabilities to participate
487 in interscholastic athletic competition as contained in a
488 uniform preparticipation physical evaluation and history form.
489 The evaluation form shall incorporate the recommendations of the
490 American Heart Association for participation cardiovascular
491 screening and shall provide a place for the signature of the
492 practitioner performing the evaluation with an attestation that
493 each examination procedure listed on the form was performed by
494 the practitioner or by someone under the direct supervision of
495 the practitioner. The form shall also contain a place for the
496 practitioner to indicate if a referral to another practitioner
497 was made in lieu of completion of a certain examination
498 procedure. The form shall provide a place for the practitioner
499 to whom the student was referred to complete the remaining
500 sections and attest to that portion of the examination. The
501 preparticipation physical evaluation form shall advise students
502 to complete a cardiovascular assessment and shall include
503 information concerning alternative cardiovascular evaluation and
504 diagnostic tests. Results of such medical evaluation must be
505 provided to the school. A student is not eligible to
506 participate, as provided in s. 1006.15 s. 1006.15(3), in any
507 interscholastic athletic competition or engage in any practice,
508 tryout, workout, or other physical activity associated with the
509 student’s candidacy for an interscholastic athletic team until
510 the results of the medical evaluation have been received and
511 approved by the school.
512 Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
513
514 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
515 And the title is amended as follows:
516 Delete everything before the enacting clause
517 and insert:
518 A bill to be entitled
519 An act relating to student participation in
520 interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular
521 sports; amending s. 1006.15, F.S.; providing a
522 requirement for determining whether a school offers an
523 activity or sport; defining terms; revising
524 requirements for student eligibility; deleting a
525 provision relating to evaluation processes for home
526 education student participants; requiring an
527 organization that regulates interscholastic
528 extracurricular activities to adopt certain bylaws;
529 deleting provisions relating to the Florida High
530 School Athletic Association (FHSAA) cooperating with
531 entities to facilitate student participation in
532 certain activities; deleting obsolete language;
533 revising school responsibilities; providing
534 requirements for student transfers; requiring the
535 FHSAA to make an eligibility determination within a
536 specified timeframe; requiring the FHSAA to adopt
537 bylaws to establish criteria for appeals of
538 eligibility determinations; requiring the FHSAA to
539 publish online decisions on student eligibility;
540 authorizing the FHSAA to adopt additional bylaws;
541 deleting provisions limiting eligibility to certain
542 non-FHSAA member private schools’ students; deleting
543 provisions relating to participation requirements for
544 certain transfer students; amending ss. 1002.33,
545 1006.195, and 1006.20, F.S.; conforming cross
546 references; providing an effective date.