F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
HB 1479 2024
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation
3 education for athletic coaches; amending ss. 943.0438
4 and 1006.20, F.S.; requiring independent sanctioning
5 authorities and the Florida High School Athletic
6 Association to adopt guidelines to educate certain
7 persons on first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
8 procedures; requiring athletic coaches to hold a
9 current certificate of successful completion of a
10 course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; amending ss.
11 1006.165 and 1012.55, F.S.; conforming provisions to
12 changes made by the act; providing an effective date.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
17 943.0438, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (h) is
18 added to that subsection, to read:
19 943.0438 Athletic coaches for independent sanctioning
20 authorities.—
21 (2) An independent sanctioning authority shall:
22 (e) Adopt guidelines to educate athletic coaches,
23 officials, administrators, and youth athletes and their parents
24 or guardians of:
25 1. The nature and risk of concussion and head injury.
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26 2. First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
27 procedures.
28 (h) Adopt bylaws or polices that require an athletic coach
29 to hold a current certificate of successful course completion in
30 cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
31 Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
32 1006.165, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
33 1006.165 Well-being of students participating in
34 extracurricular activities; training.—
35 (1)
36 (b) Beginning June 1, 2021, A school employee, an athletic
37 coach, or a volunteer with current training in cardiopulmonary
38 resuscitation and use of a defibrillator must be present at each
39 athletic event during and outside of the school year, including
40 athletic contests, practices, workouts, and conditioning
41 sessions. The training must include completion of a course in
42 cardiopulmonary resuscitation or a basic first aid course that
43 includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, and
44 demonstrated proficiency in the use of a defibrillator. Each
45 employee, coach, or volunteer who is reasonably expected to use
46 a defibrillator must complete this training.
47 Section 3. Paragraph (j) of subsection (2) of section
48 1006.20, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (n) is
49 added to that subsection, to read:
50 1006.20 Athletics in public K-12 schools.—
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51 (2) ADOPTION OF BYLAWS, POLICIES, OR GUIDELINES.—
52 (j) The FHSAA shall adopt guidelines to educate athletic
53 coaches, officials, administrators, and student athletes and
54 their parents or guardians of:
55 1. The nature and risk of concussion and head injury.
56 2. First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
57 procedures.
58 (n) The FHSAA shall adopt bylaws or polices that require
59 an athletic coach to hold a current certificate of successful
60 course completion in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
61 Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
62 1012.55, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
63 1012.55 Positions for which certificates required. —
64 (2)
65 (b) Completion of a sports safety course shall count for 6
66 hours of required school district inservice instruction for
67 athletic coaching certification if the course is approved by the
68 Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors and
69 meets the following requirements:
70 1. The course consists of at least eight modules.
71 2. The course immediately provides an individual with a
72 "merit" certificate at the time of successful completion.
73 3. The course is delivered through hands-on and online
74 teaching methods.
75 4. The course is a hands-on course taught by either a
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76 state-licensed athletic trainer who holds a current certificate
77 from the Board of Certification or a member of the American
78 Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
79 5. Hands-on course material is less than 120 pages.
80 6. The course covers sports safety specifically, including
81 procedures for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but
82 excluding coaching principles and procedures for cardiopulmonary
83 resuscitation.
84 7. The course is authored or approved by at least 10
85 health care professionals, including doctors of medicine,
86 doctors of osteopathy, registered nurses, physical therapists,
87 and certified athletic trainers.
88 8. The course is revised and reviewed for updates at least
89 once every 30 months.
90 9. The course is available to the general public for a
91 retail price under $50.
92 10. Each course examination is automated and taken online
93 with a score of 80 percent or better for successful completion.
94 Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
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Statutes affected: H 1479 Filed: 943.0438, 1006.165, 1006.20, 1012.55