Florida Senate - 2026                       CS for CS for SB 538
       
       
        
       By the Committees on Judiciary; and Education Pre-K - 12; and
       Senator Simon
       
       
       
       
       590-02452-26                                           2026538c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to extracurricular activities;
    3         amending s. 1006.15, F.S.; making technical changes;
    4         defining terms; revising eligibility requirements for
    5         a student to participate in an interscholastic or
    6         intrascholastic extracurricular activity; providing
    7         construction; deleting obsolete provisions; requiring
    8         that insurance provided by district school boards for
    9         participants in extracurricular activities cover any
   10         eligible student; deleting requirements for the
   11         Florida High School Athletic Association to facilitate
   12         a program for private school students to participate
   13         in an interscholastic or intrascholastic sport;
   14         requiring the athletic director or other appropriate
   15         administrator to maintain student records for all
   16         eligible students participating in interscholastic or
   17         intrascholastic extracurricular activities at a member
   18         school; revising requirements for a student to apply
   19         to participate in an interscholastic or
   20         intrascholastic extracurricular activity at certain
   21         schools; authorizing a public school to assess an
   22         activity fee for certain students; defining the term
   23         “prorated per-student cost to the school or district
   24         for the activity”; requiring the school or district to
   25         adopt a written policy for calculating specified
   26         costs; requiring the school or district to publish
   27         online the activity fee schedule; providing a
   28         limitation on a specified fee assessed by a public
   29         school; requiring parents to provide for the
   30         transportation to and from the school for their
   31         student; providing indemnity for a school and district
   32         school board under specified circumstances;
   33         prohibiting a student from participating in
   34         interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular
   35         activities at two different schools within the same
   36         school year unless the student meets specified
   37         criteria; requiring the governing organization to
   38         provide a certain determination of eligibility within
   39         a specified timeframe; requiring the governing
   40         organization to adopt specified bylaws; authorizing
   41         the governing organization to adopt additional bylaws;
   42         deleting provisions providing requirements for certain
   43         student transfers; amending s. 1002.31, F.S.; deleting
   44         obsolete language; amending s. 1002.33, F.S.;
   45         conforming a cross-reference and provisions to changes
   46         made by the act; amending s. 1003.455, F.S.; requiring
   47         each school district to ensure that students
   48         participate in the Presidential Youth Fitness Program;
   49         amending s. 1006.195, F.S.; conforming cross
   50         references; amending s. 1006.20, F.S.; authorizing a
   51         student who is denied certain eligibility to appeal a
   52         decision made by the governing organization; requiring
   53         the governing organization to adopt bylaws to
   54         establish a timeline for an appeals process; providing
   55         a limitation on such timelines; amending s. 1012.22,
   56         F.S.; authorizing a district school board to determine
   57         and approve the compensation of an athletic coach or
   58         sponsor of an extracurricular activity; providing that
   59         the compensation may exceed any prescribed salary
   60         schedule, supplement, or stipend and be paid in any
   61         form or amount deemed appropriate by the school board;
   62         providing that such compensation is considered part of
   63         the athletic coach’s or sponsor’s total compensation;
   64         authorizing district school board policy to include
   65         payments by certain entities to be included in
   66         compensation; providing that limitations on
   67         supplemental pay are not applicable to the
   68         compensation of an athletic coach or activity sponsor;
   69         providing an effective date.
   70          
   71  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   72  
   73         Section 1. Section 1006.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   74  read:
   75         1006.15 Student standards for participation in
   76  interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular student
   77  activities; regulation.—
   78         (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the “Craig
   79  Dickinson Act.”
   80         (2) DETERMINATION.—Interscholastic extracurricular student
   81  activities are an important complement to the academic
   82  curriculum. Participation in a comprehensive extracurricular and
   83  academic program contributes to student development of the
   84  social and intellectual skills necessary to become a well
   85  rounded adult. As used in this section, the term
   86  “extracurricular” means any school-authorized or education
   87  related activity occurring during or outside the regular
   88  instructional school day. In the determination of whether a
   89  school offers an activity or a sport, the activity or sport must
   90  meet the designation requirements of s. 1006.205(3)(a).
   91         (3)(a)DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section and s. 1006.20,
   92  the term:
   93         (a) “Eligible student” means a home education student,
   94  charter school student, private school student, Florida Virtual
   95  School student, alternative school student, or traditional
   96  public school student who wishes to participate in an
   97  interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity.
   98         (b)1. “Eligible to participate” includes, but is not
   99  limited to, a student participating in all of the following:
  100         a. Tryouts.,
  101         b. Off-season conditioning.,
  102         c. Summer workouts.,
  103         d. Preseason conditioning.,
  104         e. In-season practice.,
  105         f.or Contests.
  106         2. The term does not mean that a student must be placed on
  107  any specific team for interscholastic or intrascholastic
  108  extracurricular activities. To be eligible to participate in
  109  interscholastic extracurricular student activities, a student
  110  must:
  111         a.1. Maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or above on a
  112  4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the previous semester or a
  113  cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0 scale,
  114  or its equivalent, in the courses required by s. 1002.3105(5) or
  115  s. 1003.4282.
  116         b.2. Execute and fulfill the requirements of an academic
  117  performance contract between the student, the district school
  118  board, the appropriate governing association, and the student’s
  119  parents, if the student’s cumulative grade point average falls
  120  below 2.0, or its equivalent, on a 4.0 scale in the courses
  121  required by s. 1002.3105(5) or s. 1003.4282. At a minimum, the
  122  contract must require that the student attend summer school, or
  123  its graded equivalent, between grades 9 and 10 or grades 10 and
  124  11, as necessary.
  125         c.3. Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above
  126  on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the courses required by s.
  127  1002.3105(5) or s. 1003.4282 during his or her junior or senior
  128  year.
  129         d.4. Maintain satisfactory conduct, including adherence to
  130  appropriate dress and other codes of student conduct policies
  131  described in s. 1006.07(2). If a student is convicted of, or is
  132  found to have committed, a felony or a delinquent act that would
  133  have been a felony if committed by an adult, regardless of
  134  whether adjudication is withheld, the student’s participation in
  135  interscholastic extracurricular activities is contingent upon
  136  established and published district school board policy.
  137         3.(b) Any student who is exempt from attending a full
  138  school day based on rules adopted by the district school board
  139  for double session schools or programs, experimental schools, or
  140  schools operating under emergency conditions must maintain the
  141  grade point average required by this section and pass each class
  142  for which he or she is enrolled.
  143         4.A home education student must meet the requirements of
  144  the home education program pursuant to s. 1002.41.
  145         a.During the period of participation at a school, the home
  146  education student must demonstrate educational progress as
  147  required in subparagraph 3. in all subjects taken in the home
  148  education program by a method of evaluation agreed upon by the
  149  parent and the school principal, which evaluation may include
  150  review of the student’s work by a certified teacher chosen by
  151  the parent; grades earned through correspondence; grades earned
  152  in courses taken at a Florida College System institution, state
  153  university, or trade school; standardized test scores above the
  154  35th percentile; or any other method designated in s. 1002.41.
  155         b.The home education student must meet the same standards
  156  of acceptance, behavior, and performance as required of other
  157  students in extracurricular activities.
  158         c.A student who transfers from a home education program to
  159  a public school before or during the first grading period of the
  160  school year is academically eligible to participate in
  161  interscholastic extracurricular activities during the first
  162  grading period, provided the student has a successful evaluation
  163  from the previous school year, pursuant to sub-subparagraph a.
  164         (c) “Extracurricular” means any school-authorized or
  165  education-related activity occurring during or outside the
  166  regular instructional school day.
  167         (d)Governing organization” means any organization that
  168  governs the athletic activities of a school, including, but not
  169  limited to, the Florida High School Athletic Association.
  170         (4) ELIGIBILITY.—
  171         (a)(c)1.A An individual home education student is eligible
  172  to participate in an interscholastic or intrascholastic
  173  extracurricular activity at the school in which he or she is
  174  enrolled.
  175         (b) An eligible student may participate in an
  176  interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity at a
  177  school other than the school in which the student is enrolled
  178  if:
  179         1. The school in which the student is enrolled does not
  180  offer the same interscholastic or intrascholastic
  181  extracurricular activity or the student is in a home education
  182  program; and
  183         2. The school at which the student will participate in the
  184  interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity is
  185  located in the school district in which the student resides.
  186         (c) If no public or charter schools in the district in
  187  which the student resides offer the interscholastic or
  188  intrascholastic extracurricular activity, and an agreement
  189  cannot be reached with a private school in the district in which
  190  the student resides, the student may participate at a public,
  191  charter, or private school that is appropriate for the student’s
  192  grade level located outside of his or her school district. The
  193  school at which the student participates pursuant to this
  194  paragraph must be in a school district adjacent to the school
  195  district in which the student resides.
  196         (d) If a student has exhausted all options outlined above
  197  for participation in an interscholastic or intrascholastic
  198  extracurricular activity, the student may petition the executive
  199  director of the applicable governing organization to explore
  200  options for participation at a school not otherwise covered by
  201  this section.
  202         (e) For purposes of this subsection, any participation by
  203  an eligible student at a private school other than the school in
  204  which the student is enrolled must be pursuant to an agreement
  205  between the private school and the student at the public school
  206  to which the student would be assigned according to district
  207  school board attendance area policies or which the student could
  208  choose to attend pursuant to s. 1002.31, or may develop an
  209  agreement to participate at a private school, in the
  210  interscholastic extracurricular activities of that school,
  211  provided the following conditions are met:
  212         a. The home education student must meet the requirements of
  213  the home education program pursuant to s. 1002.41.
  214         b. During the period of participation at a school, the home
  215  education student must demonstrate educational progress as
  216  required in paragraph (b) in all subjects taken in the home
  217  education program by a method of evaluation agreed upon by the
  218  parent and the school principal which may include: review of the
  219  student’s work by a certified teacher chosen by the parent;
  220  grades earned through correspondence; grades earned in courses
  221  taken at a Florida College System institution, university, or
  222  trade school; standardized test scores above the 35th
  223  percentile; or any other method designated in s. 1002.41.
  224         c. The home education student must meet the same residency
  225  requirements as other students in the school at which he or she
  226  participates.
  227         d. The home education student must meet the same standards
  228  of acceptance, behavior, and performance as required of other
  229  students in extracurricular activities.
  230         e. The student must register with the school his or her
  231  intent to participate in interscholastic extracurricular
  232  activities as a representative of the school before
  233  participation. A home education student must be able to
  234  participate in curricular activities if that is a requirement
  235  for an extracurricular activity.
  236         f. A student who transfers from a home education program to
  237  a public school before or during the first grading period of the
  238  school year is academically eligible to participate in
  239  interscholastic extracurricular activities during the first
  240  grading period provided the student has a successful evaluation
  241  from the previous school year, pursuant to sub-subparagraph b.
  242         g. Any public school or private school student who has been
  243  unable to maintain academic eligibility for participation in
  244  interscholastic extracurricular activities is ineligible to
  245  participate in such activities as a home education student until
  246  the student has successfully completed one grading period in
  247  home education pursuant to sub-subparagraph b. to become
  248  eligible to participate as a home education student.
  249         2. An individual home education student is eligible to
  250  participate on an interscholastic athletic team at any public
  251  school in the school district in which the student resides,
  252  provided the student meets the conditions specified in sub
  253  subparagraphs 1.a.-g.
  254         (d) An individual charter school student pursuant to s.
  255  1002.33 is eligible to participate at the public school to which
  256  the student would be assigned according to district school board
  257  attendance area policies or which the student could attend, or
  258  may develop an agreement to participate at a private school, in
  259  any interscholastic extracurricular activity of that school,
  260  unless such activity is provided by the student’s charter
  261  school, if the following conditions are met:
  262         1. The charter school student must meet the requirements of
  263  the charter school education program as determined by the
  264  charter school governing board.
  265         2. During the period of participation at a school, the
  266  charter school student must demonstrate educational progress as
  267  required in paragraph (b).
  268         3. The charter school student must meet the same residency
  269  requirements as other students in the school at which he or she
  270  participates.
  271         4. The charter school student must meet the same standards
  272  of acceptance, behavior, and performance that are required of
  273  other students in extracurricular activities.
  274         5. The charter school student must register with the school
  275  his or her intent to participate in interscholastic
  276  extracurricular activities as a representative of the school
  277  before participation. A charter school student must be able to
  278  participate in curricular activities if that is a requirement
  279  for an extracurricular activity.
  280         6. A student who transfers from a charter school program to
  281  a traditional public school before or during the first grading
  282  period of the school year is academically eligible to
  283  participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities during
  284  the first grading period if the student has a successful
  285  evaluation from the previous school year pursuant to
  286  subparagraph 2.
  287         7. Any public school or private school student who has been
  288  unable to maintain academic eligibility for participation in
  289  interscholastic extracurricular activities is ineligible to
  290  participate in such activities as a charter school student until
  291  the student has successfully completed one grading period in a
  292  charter school pursuant to subparagraph 2. to become eligible to
  293  participate as a charter school student.
  294         (e) A student of the Florida Virtual School full-time
  295  program may participate in any interscholastic extracurricular
  296  activity at the public school to which the student would be
  297  assigned according to district school board attendance area
  298  policies or which the student could choose to attend pursuant to
  299  s. 1002.31, or may develop an agreement to participate at a
  300  private school, if the student:
  301         1. During the period of participation in the
  302  interscholastic extracurricular activity, meets the requirements
  303  in paragraph (a).
  304         2. Meets any additional requirements as determined by the
  305  board of trustees of the Florida Virtual School.
  306         3. Meets the same residency requirements as other students
  307  in the school at which he or she participates.
  308         4. Meets the same standards of acceptance, behavior, and
  309  performance that are required of other students in
  310  extracurricular activities.
  311         5. Registers his or her intent to participate in
  312  interscholastic extracurricular activities with the school
  313  before participation. A Florida Virtual school student must be
  314  able to participate in curricular activities if that is a
  315  requirement for an extracurricular activity.
  316         (f) A student who transfers from the Florida Virtual School
  317  full-time program to a traditional public school before or
  318  during the first grading period of the school year is
  319  academically eligible to participate in interscholastic
  320  extracurricular activities during the first grading period if
  321  the student has a successful evaluation from the previous school
  322  year pursuant to paragraph (a).
  323         (g) A public school or private school student who has been
  324  unable to maintain academic eligibility for participation in
  325  interscholastic extracurricular activities is ineligible to
  326  participate in such activities as a Florida Virtual School
  327  student until the student successfully completes one grading
  328  period in the Florida Virtual School pursuant to paragraph (a).
  329         (h) A student in a full-time virtual instruction program
  330  under s. 1002.45, including the full-time Florida Virtual School
  331  program, a full-time school district virtual instruction
  332  program, or a full-time virtual charter school, is eligible to
  333  participate on an interscholastic athletic team at any public
  334  school in the school district in which the student resides, or
  335  may develop an agreement to participate at a private school,
  336  provided the student:
  337         1. During the period of participation in the
  338  interscholastic extracurricular activity, meets the requirements
  339  in paragraph (a);
  340         2. Meets any additional requirements as determined by the
  341  board of trustees of the Florida Virtual School, the district
  342  school board, or the governing board of the virtual charter
  343  school, as applicable;
  344         3. Meets the same residency requirements as other students
  345  in the school at which he or she participates;
  346         4. Meets the same standards of athletic team acceptance,
  347  behavior, and performance which are required of other students
  348  in extracurricular activities; and
  349         5. Registers his or her intent to participate in
  350  interscholastic extracurricular activities with the school
  351  before participation.
  352         (i) An individual traditional public school student who is
  353  otherwise eligible to participate in interscholastic
  354  extracurricular activities may either participate in any such
  355  activity at any public school in the school district in which
  356  the student resides or develop an agreement to participate in
  357  such activity at a private school, unless the activity is
  358  provided by the student’s traditional public school. Such
  359  student must:
  360         1. Meet the same standards of acceptance, behavior, and
  361  performance that are required of other students in
  362  extracurricular activities at the school at which the student
  363  wishes to participate.
  364         2. Before participation, register with the school his or
  365  her intent to participate in interscholastic extracurricular
  366  activities as a representative of the school. The student must
  367  be able to participate in curricular activities if that is a
  368  requirement for an extracurricular activity.
  369         (j)1. A school district or charter school may not delay
  370  eligibility or otherwise prevent a student participating in
  371  controlled open enrollment, or a choice program, from being
  372  immediately eligible to participate in interscholastic and
  373  intrascholastic extracurricular activities.
  374         2. A student may not participate in a sport if the student
  375  participated in that same sport at another school during that
  376  school year, unless the student meets one of the following
  377  criteria:
  378         a. Dependent children of active duty military personnel
  379  whose move resulted from military orders.
  380         b. Children who have been relocated due to a foster care
  381  placement in a different school zone.
  382         c. Children who move due to a court-ordered change in
  383  custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or
  384  death of a custodial parent.
  385         d. Authorized for good cause in district or charter school
  386  policy.
  387         (5)(4)BEGINNING APPLICABILITY.—The student standards for
  388  participation in interscholastic extracurricular activities must
  389  be applied beginning with the student’s first semester of the
  390  9th grade. Each student must meet such other requirements for
  391  participation as may be established by the district school
  392  board; however, a district school board may not establish
  393  requirements for participation in interscholastic
  394  extracurricular activities which make participation in such
  395  activities less accessible to home education students than to
  396  other students. Except as set forth in paragraph (3)(c),
  397  evaluation processes or requirements that are placed on home
  398  education student participants may not go beyond those that
  399  apply under s. 1002.41 to home education students generally.
  400         (6)(5)GOVERNING ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBILITIES.—All
  401  governing organizations Any organization or entity that
  402  regulates or governs interscholastic extracurricular activities
  403  of public schools:
  404         (a) Shall permit home education associations to join as
  405  member schools.
  406         (b) May Shall not discriminate against any eligible student
  407  based on an educational choice of public, private, or home
  408  education.
  409         (7)(6)PROHIBITED MEMBERSHIPS.—Public schools are
  410  prohibited from membership in any governing organization that or
  411  entity which regulates or governs interscholastic
  412  extracurricular activities and discriminates against eligible
  413  students in public, private, or home education.
  414         (8)(7)INSURANCE.—Any insurance provided by district school
  415  boards for participants in extracurricular activities must shall
  416  cover any eligible student the participating home education
  417  student. If there is an additional premium for such coverage,
  418  the participating home education student shall pay the premium.
  419         (8)(a) The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)
  420  shall, in cooperation with each district school board and its
  421  member private schools, facilitate a program in which a middle
  422  school or high school student who attends a private school is
  423  eligible to participate in an interscholastic or intrascholastic
  424  sport at a member public high school, a member public middle
  425  school, a member 6-12 public school, or a member private school,
  426  as appropriate for the private school student’s grade level, if:
  427         1. The private school in which the student is enrolled is
  428  not a member of the FHSAA or the private school in which the
  429  student is enrolled is a member of the FHSAA and does not offer
  430  the sport in which the student wishes to participate.
  431         2. The private school student meets the guidelines for the
  432  conduct of the program established by the FHSAA’s board of
  433  directors and the district school board or member private
  434  school. At a minimum, such guidelines must provide a deadline
  435  for each sport by which the private school student’s parents
  436  must register with the member school in writing their intent for
  437  their child to participate at that school in the sport.
  438         (b) The parents of a private school student participating
  439  in a member school sport under this subsection are responsible
  440  for transporting their child to and from the member school at
  441  which the student participates. The private school the student
  442  attends, the member school at which the student participates in
  443  a sport, the district school board, and the FHSAA are exempt
  444  from civil liability arising from any injury that occurs to the
  445  student during such transportation.
  446         (c) For each academic year, a private school student may
  447  only participate at the member school in which the student is
  448  first registered under subparagraph (a)2. or makes himself or
  449  herself a candidate for an athletic team by engaging in a
  450  practice.
  451         (9) SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES.—
  452         (a)(d) The athletic director or other appropriate
  453  administrator of each participating FHSAA member school shall
  454  maintain the student records necessary for eligibility,
  455  compliance, and participation for all eligible students
  456  participating in interscholastic or intrascholastic
  457  extracurricular activities at the member school in the program.
  458         (b)(e) Any private school that has a student who wishes to
  459  participate in interscholastic or intrascholastic
  460  extracurricular activities at another school this program must
  461  make all student records, including, but not limited to,
  462  academic, financial, disciplinary, and attendance records,
  463  available upon request of the governing organization FHSAA.
  464         (c)(f) A student must apply to participate in an
  465  interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity at a
  466  school other than the school in which the student is enrolled by
  467  either of the following methods:
  468         1. Applying to the school’s governing organization for the
  469  extracurricular activity as provided for in the governing
  470  organization’s bylaws this program through the FHSAA program
  471  application process.
  472         2. If there is no governing organization for the
  473  extracurricular activity for which the student is applying,
  474  through an appropriate process that complies with ss. 1002.31
  475  and 1002.41. The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
  476  implement this paragraph.
  477         (d) The public school in which a personalized education
  478  program student wishes to participate may assess an activity fee
  479  to an eligible student pursuant to this section, provided that
  480  such fee is uniformly applied within the school or district for
  481  the activity and does not exceed the prorated per-student cost
  482  to the school or district for the activity.
  483         1. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “prorated per
  484  student cost to the school or district for the activity” means
  485  the school’s or district’s direct costs that are necessary to
  486  provide the specific interscholastic or intrascholastic
  487  extracurricular activity within the school or district, divided
  488  by the number of students participating in that activity in the
  489  school or district.
  490         2. The school or district shall adopt a written policy
  491  establishing the methodology for calculating such costs and
  492  shall annually publish online the activity fee schedule and
  493  supporting calculations for each activity.
  494         3. The public school in which a homeschool student wishes
  495  to participate may assess an eligible homeschool student only
  496  the out-of-pocket costs paid by the public school student for
  497  the interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity.
  498         (e)The parents of the student participating in the
  499  interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity must
  500  provide for the transportation of the student to and from the
  501  school at which the student participates. The school in which
  502  the student is enrolled, the school at which the student
  503  participates in the extracurricular activity, and the district
  504  school board are exempt from civil liability arising from any
  505  injury that occurs to the student during such transportation.
  506         (10)STUDENT TRANSFERS.—
  507         (a)A student may not participate in interscholastic
  508  activities at two different schools during the same school year,
  509  unless the student:
  510         1.Is a dependent child of active duty military personnel
  511  whose move resulted from military orders;
  512         2. Has been relocated due to a foster care placement in a
  513  different school zone;
  514         3. Has moved due to a court-ordered change in custody due
  515  to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or death of a
  516  custodial parent; or
  517         4.Has been granted approval by the applicable governing
  518  organization’s executive director.
  519         (b)The governing organization shall provide a
  520  determination of eligibility to the requesting student within 14
  521  days after such a request is made.
  522         (c)The governing organization shall adopt bylaws
  523  establishing criteria for determining eligibility of students
  524  pursuant to this subsection.
  525         (11)BYLAWS.—The governing organization may adopt
  526  additional bylaws to implement this section
  527         (9)(a) A student who transfers to a school during the
  528  school year may seek to immediately join an existing team if the
  529  roster for the specific interscholastic or intrascholastic
  530  extracurricular activity has not reached the activity’s
  531  identified maximum size and if the coach for the activity
  532  determines that the student has the requisite skill and ability
  533  to participate. The FHSAA and school district or charter school
  534  may not declare such a student ineligible because the student
  535  did not have the opportunity to comply with qualifying
  536  requirements.
  537         (b) A student may not participate in a sport if the student
  538  participated in that same sport at another school during that
  539  school year, unless the student meets one of the following
  540  criteria:
  541         1. Dependent children of active duty military personnel
  542  whose move resulted from military orders.
  543         2. Children who have been relocated due to a foster care
  544  placement in a different school zone.
  545         3. Children who move due to a court-ordered change in
  546  custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or
  547  death of a custodial parent.
  548         4. Authorized for good cause in district or charter school
  549  policy.
  550         (10) A student who participates in an interscholastic or
  551  intrascholastic activity at a public school and who transfers
  552  from that school during the school year must be allowed to
  553  continue to participate in the activity at that school for the
  554  remainder of the school year if:
  555         (a) During the period of participation in the activity, the
  556  student continues to meet the requirements specified in
  557  paragraph (3)(a).
  558         (b) The student continues to meet the same standards of
  559  acceptance, behavior, and performance which are required of
  560  other students participating in the activity, except for
  561  enrollment requirements at the school at which the student
  562  participates.
  563         (c) The parents of the student participating in the
  564  activity provide for the transportation of the student to and
  565  from the school at which the student participates. The school
  566  the student attends, the school at which the student
  567  participates in the activity, and the district school board are
  568  exempt from civil liability arising from any injury that occurs
  569  to the student during such transportation.
  570         Section 2. Subsection (6) of section 1002.31, Florida
  571  Statutes, is amended to read:
  572         1002.31 Controlled open enrollment; public school parental
  573  choice.—
  574         (6)(a) A school district or charter school may not delay
  575  eligibility or otherwise prevent a student participating in
  576  controlled open enrollment or a choice program from being
  577  immediately eligible to participate in interscholastic and
  578  intrascholastic extracurricular activities.
  579         (b) A student may not participate in a sport if the student
  580  participated in that same sport at another school during that
  581  school year, unless the student meets one of the following
  582  criteria:
  583         1. Dependent children of active duty military personnel
  584  whose move resulted from military orders.
  585         2. Children who have been relocated due to a foster care
  586  placement in a different school zone.
  587         3. Children who move due to a court-ordered change in
  588  custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or
  589  death of a custodial parent.
  590         4.Authorized for good cause in district or charter school
  591  policy.
  592         Section 3. Subsection (11) of section 1002.33, Florida
  593  Statutes, is amended to read:
  594         1002.33 Charter schools.—
  595         (11) PARTICIPATION IN INTERSCHOLASTIC EXTRACURRICULAR
  596  ACTIVITIES.—A charter school student is eligible to participate
  597  in an interscholastic extracurricular activity at the public
  598  school to which the student would be otherwise assigned to
  599  attend, or may develop an agreement to participate at a private
  600  school, pursuant to s. 1006.15(4) s. 1006.15(3)(d).
  601         Section 3. Subsection (7) is added to section 1003.455,
  602  Florida Statutes, to read:
  603         1003.455 Physical education; assessment.—
  604         (7) Each school district shall ensure that students in
  605  grades K-12 annually participate in the Presidential Youth
  606  Fitness Program, or its successor program, as part of the
  607  district’s physical education curriculum.
  608         Section 4. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of
  609  section 1006.195, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  610         1006.195 District school board, charter school authority
  611  and responsibility to establish student eligibility regarding
  612  participation in interscholastic and intrascholastic
  613  extracurricular activities.—Notwithstanding any provision to the
  614  contrary in ss. 1006.15, 1006.18, and 1006.20, regarding student
  615  eligibility to participate in interscholastic and
  616  intrascholastic extracurricular activities:
  617         (1)(a) A district school board shall must establish,
  618  through its code of student conduct, student eligibility
  619  standards and related student disciplinary actions regarding
  620  student participation in interscholastic and intrascholastic
  621  extracurricular activities. The code of student conduct must
  622  provide that:
  623         1. A student not currently suspended from interscholastic
  624  or intrascholastic extracurricular activities, or suspended or
  625  expelled from school, pursuant to a district school board’s
  626  suspension or expulsion powers provided in law, including ss.
  627  1006.07, 1006.08, and 1006.09, is eligible to participate in
  628  interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular activities.
  629         2. A student may not participate in a sport if the student
  630  participated in that same sport at another school during that
  631  school year, unless the student meets the criteria in s.
  632  1006.15(10) s. 1006.15(3)(j).
  633         3. A student’s eligibility to participate in any
  634  interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity may
  635  not be affected by any alleged recruiting violation until final
  636  disposition of the allegation pursuant to s. 1006.20(2)(b).
  637         (b) Students who participate in interscholastic and
  638  intrascholastic extracurricular activities for, but are not
  639  enrolled in, a public school pursuant to s. 1006.15(4) s.
  640  1006.15(3)(c)-(e) and (8), are subject to the district school
  641  board’s code of student conduct for the limited purpose of
  642  establishing and maintaining the student’s eligibility to
  643  participate at the school.
  644         Section 5. Paragraph (h) of subsection (7) of section
  645  1006.20, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (i) is
  646  added to that subsection, to read:
  647         1006.20 Athletics in public K-12 schools.—
  648         (7) APPEALS.—
  649         (h) Decisions made by the committee on appeals, the
  650  executive director or his or her designee, and a governing
  651  organization’s the FHSAA board of directors must be posted
  652  online in a searchable format and be in compliance with ss.
  653  1002.22 and 1002.221.
  654         (i) A student denied eligibility may appeal the decision
  655  from the governing organization. The governing organization
  656  shall adopt bylaws establishing a timeline for appeals which may
  657  not exceed 20 days.
  658         Section 6. Paragraph (k) is added to subsection (1) of
  659  section 1012.22, Florida Statutes, to read:
  660         1012.22 Public school personnel; powers and duties of the
  661  district school board.—The district school board shall:
  662         (1) Designate positions to be filled, prescribe
  663  qualifications for those positions, and provide for the
  664  appointment, compensation, promotion, suspension, and dismissal
  665  of employees as follows, subject to the requirements of this
  666  chapter:
  667         (k) Athletic coach and activity sponsor of extracurricular
  668  activities compensation.The district school board may, at its
  669  sole discretion, determine and approve the compensation of any
  670  person employed as an athletic coach, assistant coach, athletic
  671  program supervisor, or activity sponsor of an extracurricular
  672  activity, regardless of whether such individual is classified as
  673  instructional personnel. Compensation may exceed any salary
  674  schedule, supplement, or stipend otherwise prescribed and may be
  675  paid in any form or amount deemed appropriate by the district
  676  school board, including, but not limited to, salaries, stipends,
  677  bonuses, performance-based incentives, and hourly or per
  678  assignment pay. School districts may adopt a policy that
  679  authorizes payments by booster clubs or associations to be
  680  included in the compensation for an athletic coach and activity
  681  sponsor of extracurricular activities. Such compensation is
  682  considered part of the individual’s total compensation. The
  683  limitations on supplemental pay applicable to instructional
  684  personnel under this section or any other law do not apply to
  685  compensation provided under this paragraph.
  686         Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.