The bill amends section 943.0438 of the Florida Statutes, which pertains to the background screening requirements for athletic coaches under independent sanctioning authorities. The key change is the revision of the date by which these background screenings must be conducted. Specifically, the bill establishes that effective July 1, 2026, independent sanctioning authorities are required to conduct level 2 background screenings for all current and prospective athletic coaches, replacing the previous deadline of January 1, 2025.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes that the responsibility for conducting these screenings cannot be delegated to individual teams, and no person may act as an athletic coach unless they have undergone the screening and have not been disqualified based on the results. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 431 Filed: 943.0438