HB288ENGROSSED
Page 0
HB288
F9RTDCD-2
By Representatives Mooney, Gray, Tillman, Woods
RFD: Education Policy
First Read: 13-Feb-25
1
2
3
4
5 HB288 Engrossed
Page 1
First Read: 13-Feb-25
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to Alabama Commission on Higher Education; to
add Article 5 to Chapter 5 of Title 16, Code of Alabama 1975,
to authorize the commission to award loan assistance to
eligible athletic trainers through the Alabama Math and
Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP).
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Article 5 is added to Chapter 5 of Title 16
of the Code of Alabama 1975 to read as follows:
§16-5-100
For the purposes of this article, the following terms
have the following meanings:
(1) APPROVED DEGREE. A completed master’s degree
recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic
Training Education for an athletic training program through
which students become eligible for an approved degree.
(2) APPROVED INSTITUTION. A public or private nonprofit
institution of higher education that satisfies both of the
following:
a. Is accredited by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges or by a nationally
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 HB288 Engrossed
Page 2
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges or by a nationally
recognized accrediting agency that provides the institution
with eligibility to receive Title IV federal student aid.
b. Is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of
Athletic Training Education for an athletic training program
through which students become eligible for national
certification upon successfully completing the Board of
Certification, Inc. examination.
(3) ATHLETIC TRAINING SERVICES. Services provided by a
licensed athletic trainer within the scope of athletic
training practice pursuant to Chapter 40 of Title 34.
(4) CERTIFICATION. National recognition by successfully
completing the Board of Certification, Inc. examination for
athletic training.
(5) CHARTER SCHOOL. A public K-12 school established
pursuant to Chapter 6F.
(6) COMMISSION. The Alabama Commission on Higher
Education.
(7) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT. An individual who satisfies the
criteria set out in this article and is eligible under rules
adopted by the commission in consultation with the Alabama
Board of Athletic Trainers.
(8) LICENSED ATHLETIC TRAINER. A healthcare
professional who is legally authorized to perform athletic
training services within this state upon satisfying all of the
following requirements:
a. Graduated from an approved athletic training program
at the master’s degree level from an approved institution.
b. Passed the Board of Certification, Inc. examination.
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56 HB288 Engrossed
Page 3
b. Passed the Board of Certification, Inc. examination.
c. Holds a valid license from the Alabama Board of
Athletic Trainers that verifies the individual meets
state-specific requirements, including continuing education.
(9) LOAN ASSISTANCE SUPPORT. Financial assistance
provided to a licensed athletic trainer who provides athletic
training services at a qualifying institution and has an
outstanding federal student loan balance.
(10) PROGRAM. The Alabama Math and Science Teacher
Education Program (AMSTEP), or any successor program,
administered by the commission in consultation with the
Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers.
(11) QUALIFYING INSTITUTION. A public or private K-12
school or school system or two-year or four-year institution
of higher education in this state that requires athletic
training services for sanctioned activities governed by an
organization, including the Alabama High School Athletic
Association, the Alabama Independent School Association, the
Alabama Community College Conference, the National Collegiate
Athletic Association, the National Association of
Intercollegiate Athletics, or the National Intercollegiate
Rodeo Association.
(12) YEAR. The fall, spring, and summer semesters of an
academic year of a qualifying institution.
§16-5-101
(a) This article shall be administered by the
commission in consultation with the Alabama Board of Athletic
Trainers.
(b) A percentage not to exceed 10 percent of any annual
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84 HB288 Engrossed
Page 4
(b) A percentage not to exceed 10 percent of any annual
appropriations received by the program may be expended for the
operation and administrative requirements provided in this
article.
(c) The requirements of this article are contingent
upon available funding for the program.
(d) The commission, in consultation with the Alabama
Board of Athletic Trainers, may adopt rules for the
administration and implementation of this article.
§16-5-102
(a) The commission may award loan assistance from the
program to eligible applicants.
(b) To be eligible for loan assistance of seven
thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) per year worked or
three thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($3,750) per
semester worked, for a maximum of four consecutive years, an
applicant shall satisfy all of the following:
(1) Is a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the
United States.
(2) Holds an approved degree from an approved
institution.
(3) Is licensed and in good standing with the Alabama
Board of Athletic Trainers pursuant to Chapter 40 of Title 34.
(4) Provides an average of at least 20 hours of
athletic training services per week at qualifying institutions
throughout the year in this state.
(5) Has outstanding subsidized or unsubsidized federal
student loans.
(6) Satisfies additional continuing eligibility
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112 HB288 Engrossed
Page 5
(6) Satisfies additional continuing eligibility
criteria established by the commission in consultation with
the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers.
(7) Has not, nor intends to, receive a grant from the
Athletic Trainer Secondary School Incentive Program.
(c) Loan assistance awards shall be distributed
directly to eligible applicants in two disbursements during
the applicable year with one disbursement being made after
January 1 and the second disbursement being made after June 1.
(d) To receive loan assistance, an eligible applicant
shall register online with the Comptroller and verify his or
her employment. An eligible applicant who receives loan
assistance and remains employed shall continue to receive
assistance for the four-year limit.
(e) An eligible applicant shall notify the commission
in writing of any change in status within 30 days after the
change. Failure to notify the commission of a change in status
shall affect future eligibility. A change in status includes
all of the following:
(1) A change in name.
(2) A change in residence.
(3) A change in employment status.
(f) The commission shall inform an eligible applicant
awarded loan assistance that loan assistance is considered
income by the Internal Revenue Service.
(g)(1) The commission shall determine the necessary
procedures for awarding loan assistance if an eligible
applicants' total awards exceed available funding.
(2) The commission shall prioritize loan assistance to
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140 HB288 Engrossed
Page 6
(2) The commission shall prioritize loan assistance to
eligible educators prior to awarding loan assistance to
eligible licensed athletic trainers.
§16-5-103
Any individual or institution not satisfied with the
commission's actions in administering the program may submit a
written petition to the commission within 30 days after notice
of the action complained of. If the individual or institution
is not satisfied with the commission's response, the
individual or institution may request a rehearing within 20
days after the commission's response. The commission shall
schedule the rehearing within 20 days after receiving the
rehearing request. The individual or institution may present
written and oral evidence supporting the petition and may be
represented by counsel. The decision of the commission
following the rehearing is final.
§16-5-104
(a) The commission shall develop an accountability and
evaluation plan for the program which does all of the
following:
(1) Identifies the goals, objectives, and expected
outputs and outcomes of the program.
(2) Describes the specific activities of the program
and how those activities will achieve expected outcomes.
(3) Defines the expected metrics of success shall be
and provide a monitoring plan to regularly assess performance.
(4) Provides an evaluation plan to assess the impact of
expected outcomes.
(b) The department shall consult with the Alabama
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168 HB288 Engrossed
Page 7
(b) The department shall consult with the Alabama
Commission on the Evaluation of Services in the development of
the accountability and evaluation plan.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on August 1,
2025.
169
170
171
172 HB288 Engrossed
Page 8
2025.
House of Representatives
Read for the first time and referred
to the House of Representatives
committee on Education Policy
................13-Feb-25
Read for the second time and placed
on the calendar:
0 amendments
................27-Feb-25
Read for the third time and passed
as amended
Yeas 67
Nays 29
Abstains 6
................01-Apr-25
John Treadwell
Clerk
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193