Florida Senate - 2026 SB 178
By Senator Jones
34-00210-26 2026178__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to athletics in public K-12 schools;
3 amending s. 1006.20, F.S.; requiring the Florida High
4 School Athletic Association to adopt bylaws
5 authorizing a coach to support the welfare of a
6 student by using personal funds to provide certain
7 effects to the student; requiring the coach to report
8 such use of personal funds to the association;
9 providing that such use of personal funds is presumed
10 not to be an impermissible benefit; providing
11 exceptions; amending ss. 768.135, 1002.20, 1006.165,
12 and 1012.468, F.S.; conforming cross-references;
13 providing an effective date.
14
15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17 Section 1. Present paragraphs (c) through (n) of subsection
18 (2) of section 1006.20, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
19 paragraphs (d) through (o), respectively, and a new paragraph
20 (c) is added to that subsection, to read:
21 1006.20 Athletics in public K-12 schools.—
22 (2) ADOPTION OF BYLAWS, POLICIES, OR GUIDELINES.—
23 (c) The FHSAA shall adopt bylaws that authorize a coach to
24 support the welfare of a student he or she coaches by using
25 personal funds to provide, in good faith, effects such as food,
26 transportation, and recovery services.
27 1. A coach who uses personal funds to provide such effects
28 must report such use to the FHSAA in a manner provided by FHSAA
29 bylaw.
30 2. Such use of personal funds is presumed not to be an
31 impermissible benefit, unless such use of personal funds is:
32 a. Not reported;
33 b. Reported and deemed not to be in good faith by the
34 FHSAA; or
35 c. Used for recruiting purposes.
36 Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 768.135, Florida
37 Statutes, is amended to read:
38 768.135 Volunteer team physicians; immunity.—
39 (3) A practitioner licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459,
40 chapter 460, or s. 464.012 or registered under s. 464.0123 who
41 gratuitously and in good faith conducts an evaluation pursuant
42 to s. 1006.20(2)(d) s. 1006.20(2)(c) is not liable for any civil
43 damages arising from that evaluation unless the evaluation was
44 conducted in a wrongful manner.
45 Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (17) of section
46 1002.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
47 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public
48 school students must receive accurate and timely information
49 regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed
50 of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
51 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
52 rights including, but not limited to, the following:
53 (17) ATHLETICS; PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL.—
54 (b) Medical evaluation and electrocardiogram.—Before
55 participating in athletics, students must:
56 1. Satisfactorily pass a medical evaluation each year,
57 unless the parent objects in writing based on religious tenets
58 or practices, in accordance with s. 1006.20(2)(e) s.
59 1006.20(2)(d); and
60 2. As applicable under s. 1006.20, receive an
61 electrocardiogram, unless the parent objects in writing based on
62 religious tenets or practices or secures a certificate of
63 medical exception in accordance with s. 1006.20(2)(e) s.
64 1006.20(2)(d) or the school district is unable to obtain a
65 public or private partnership for the provision of an
66 electrocardiogram pursuant to s. 1006.165.
67 Section 4. Subsection (3) of section 1006.165, Florida
68 Statutes, is amended to read:
69 1006.165 Well-being of students participating in
70 extracurricular activities; training.—
71 (3) Each school district must pursue public and private
72 partnerships to provide low-cost electrocardiograms to the
73 student. A student athlete is exempt from the requirement in s.
74 1006.20(2)(d)4. s. 1006.20(2)(c)4. if he or she resides in a
75 school district that is unable to obtain a public or private
76 partnership to provide an electrocardiogram at a rate of less
77 than $50 per student.
78 Section 5. Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section
79 1012.468, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
80 1012.468 Exceptions to certain fingerprinting and criminal
81 history checks.—
82 (2) A district school board shall exempt from the screening
83 requirements set forth in ss. 1012.465 and 1012.467 the
84 following noninstructional contractors:
85 (g) An investigator for the Florida High School Athletic
86 Association (FHSAA) who meets the requirements under s.
87 1006.20(2)(f) s. 1006.20(2)(e).
88 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.