HB 763

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to high school athletic trainers; amending
3s. 468.705, F.S.; providing for the adoption of rules by
4the Board of Athletic Training within the Department of
5Health; amending s. 468.711, F.S.; requiring certain
6continuing education for licensed athletic trainers on the
7prevention and emergency management of concussions and
8catastrophic spinal cord, neck, and brain injuries;
9amending s. 1012.46, F.S.; requiring school districts to
10employ at least one full-time certified athletic trainer
11at each high school in this state; requiring athletic
12trainers at high schools to be certified by the National
13Athletic Trainers' Association; providing a rebuttable
14presumption that a school district did not negligently
15employ an athletic trainer for purposes of a civil action
16for negligence by the athletic trainer if the school
17district made a good faith effort to comply with the
18certification requirements for athletic trainers;
19providing legislative intent; providing an effective date.
20
21Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23     Section 1.  Section 468.705, Florida Statutes, is amended
24to read:
25     468.705  Rulemaking authority.-The board is authorized to
26adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement
27provisions of this part conferring duties upon it. The
28provisions of s. 456.011(5) shall apply to the board's activity.
29Such rules shall include, but not be limited to, the allowable
30scope of practice regarding the use of equipment, procedures,
31and medication, requirements for a written protocol between the
32athletic trainer and a supervising physician, licensure
33requirements, licensure examination, continuing education
34requirements, fees, records, and reports to be filed by
35licensees, protocols, certification of high school athletic
36trainers by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, and any
37other requirements necessary to regulate the practice of
38athletic training.
39     Section 2.  Section 468.711, Florida Statutes, is amended
40to read:
41     468.711  Renewal of license; continuing education.-
42     (1)  The department shall renew a license upon receipt of
43the renewal application and fee, provided the applicant is in
44compliance with the provisions of this section, chapter 456, and
45rules promulgated pursuant thereto.
46     (2)  The board may, by rule, prescribe continuing education
47requirements, not to exceed 24 hours biennially. The criteria
48for continuing education shall be approved by the board and
49shall include a current certificate in cardiovascular pulmonary
50resuscitation from the American Red Cross or equivalent training
51as determined by the board and completion of an annual
52continuing education course on the prevention and emergency
53management of concussions and catastrophic spinal cord, neck,
54and brain injuries. The course shall be administered by a
55company that has the ability to create a curriculum while
56working with local facilities to coordinate the training,
57development, and placement of certified athletic trainers.
58     (3)  Pursuant to the requirements of s. 456.034, each
59licensee shall complete a continuing education course on human
60immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome
61as part of biennial relicensure.
62     Section 3.  Section 1012.46, Florida Statutes, is amended
63to read:
64     1012.46  Athletic trainers.-
65     (1)  School districts may establish and implement an
66athletic injuries prevention and treatment program. Central to
67this program should be the employment and availability of
68licensed athletic trainers who are certified by the Board of
69Certification of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and
70persons trained in the prevention and treatment of physical
71injuries that may occur during athletic activities. The program
72should reflect opportunities for progressive advancement and
73compensation in employment as provided in subsection (2) and
74meet certain other minimum standards developed by the Department
75of Education. The goal of the Legislature is to have School
76districts must employ and have available at least one a full-
77time athletic trainer in each high school in the state.
78     (2)  To qualify as an athletic trainer, a person must be
79certified by the Board of Certification of the National Athletic
80Trainers' Association and licensed as required by part XIII of
81chapter 468 and may possess a professional, temporary, part-
82time, adjunct, or substitute certificate pursuant to s. 1012.35,
83s. 1012.56, or s. 1012.57.
84     (3)  In a civil action against a school district for the
85death of, or injury or damage to, an individual which was
86allegedly caused by the negligence of an athletic trainer and
87which relates to the treatment of a sports injury by the
88athletic trainer, there is a rebuttable presumption that the
89school district was not negligent in employing the athletic
90trainer if the school district made a good faith effort to
91comply with the provisions of this section prior to such
92employment.
93     (4)  It is the intent of this section to create and ensure
94a designated standard of care for the recognition, prevention,
95and rehabilitative treatment of high school athletic injuries in
96this state. To ensure compliance with this standard of care, the
97management and implementation of this program should be
98administered by an entity that has the ability to work with
99local facilities and school districts to coordinate the
100training, development, and placement of licensed athletic
101trainers who are certified by the Board of Certification of the
102National Athletic Trainers' Association.
103     Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.


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