The proposed bill aims to establish the "West Virginia Public Secondary School Athletic Trainer and Career Technical Education Program Act," which will create a five-year initiative to ensure that all public secondary schools in West Virginia have access to licensed athletic trainers. The program will be implemented by the West Virginia Board of Education in collaboration with the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy, with a full rollout expected by July 1, 2031. The bill mandates annual appropriations to fund the program, which includes the expansion of existing career and technical education (CTE) sports medicine programs, ensuring they align with necessary accreditation and certification standards for students pursuing further education in athletic training or related health care fields.

Additionally, the bill outlines compliance with regulations from the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission and allows for the use of the West Virginia Underwood-Smith Loan Repayment Program to incentivize individuals to work as licensed athletic trainers in public secondary schools. To be eligible for loan repayment, individuals must work in a dual capacity as both a teacher and an athletic trainer. The implementation timeline is set to begin on July 1, 2026, with the goal of having all public secondary schools employ or contract a licensed athletic trainer by the final deadline of July 1, 2031.