Florida Senate - 2009                                    SB 2066
       
       
       
       By Senator Haridopolos
       
       
       
       
       26-01550A-09                                          20092066__
    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 instruction for athletic coaching
   26  certification if the course is approved by the Florida High
   27  School Athletic Association Board of Directors and meets the
   28  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 health care
   35  professional who is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’
   36  Association or a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic
   37  Surgeons.
   38         5. Hands-on course material is less than 120 pages.
   39         6. The course covers sports safety specifically, excluding
   40  coaching principles and procedures for cardiopulmonary
   41  resuscitation.
   42         7. The course is authored or approved by at least 10 health
   43  care professionals, including doctors of medicine, doctors of
   44  osteopathy, registered nurses, physical therapists, and
   45  certified athletic trainers.
   46         8. The course is revised and reviewed for updates at least
   47  once every 30 months.
   48         9. The course is available to the general public for a
   49  retail price under $50.
   50         10. Each course examination is automated and taken online
   51  with a score of 80 percent or better for successful completion.
   52         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.