House Bill No. 5199, also known as Special Act No. 24-17, is a legislative act that establishes a task force to study the shortage of athletic trainers in the state. The task force is charged with examining various aspects of the issue, including methods to recruit and retain athletic trainers, licensure fees, incentives for those with a master's degree in athletic training, workshop opportunities for high school students interested in the field, athletic training programs at higher education institutions, funding for scholarships, equity in career opportunities and salaries, and student loan forgiveness opportunities for athletic trainers.
The task force will consist of members appointed by various legislative leaders and will include faculty members from master's degree programs in athletic training, athletic trainers employed in different settings, an orthopedic physician, an athletic director, a representative of an association of athletic trainers, a representative of a conference of interscholastic athletics, a school nurse, and the Commissioner of Public Health or their designee. The task force must report its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health by January 1, 2025, at which point the task force will terminate. The bill does not specify any insertions or deletions from current law.