HB 1479 2024
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hb1479-00
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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
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation 2
education for athletic coaches; amending ss. 943.0438 3
and 1006.20, F.S.; requiring independent sanctioning 4
authorities and the Florida High School Athletic 5
Association to adopt guidelines to educate certain 6
persons on first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation 7
procedures; requiring athletic coaches to hold a 8
current certificate of successful completion of a 9
course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; amending ss. 10
1006.165 and 1012.55, F.S.; conforming provisions to 11
changes made by the act; providing an effective date. 12
13
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 14
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Section 1. Paragraph (e) of s ubsection (2) of section 16
943.0438, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (h) is 17
added to that subsection, to read: 18
943.0438 Athletic coaches for independent sanctioning 19
authorities.— 20
(2) An independent sanctioning authority shall: 21
(e) Adopt guidelines to educate athletic coaches, 22
officials, administrators, and youth athletes and their parents 23
or guardians of: 24
1. The nature and risk of concussion and head injury. 25
HB 1479 2024
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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
2. First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) 26
procedures. 27
(h) Adopt bylaws or polices that require an athletic coach 28
to hold a current certificate of successful course completion in 29
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 30
Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 31
1006.165, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 32
1006.165 Well-being of students participating in 33
extracurricular activities; training. — 34
(1) 35
(b) Beginning June 1, 2021, A school employee, an athletic 36
coach, or a volunteer with current training in cardiopulmonary 37
resuscitation and use of a defibrillato r must be present at each 38
athletic event during and outside of the school year, including 39
athletic contests, practices, workouts, and conditioning 40
sessions. The training must include completion of a course in 41
cardiopulmonary resuscitation or a basic first aid course that 42
includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, and 43
demonstrated proficiency in the use of a defibrillator. Each 44
employee, coach, or volunteer who is reasonably expected to use 45
a defibrillator must complete this training. 46
Section 3. Paragraph (j) of subsection (2) of section 47
1006.20, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (n) is 48
added to that subsection, to read: 49
1006.20 Athletics in public K -12 schools.— 50
HB 1479 2024
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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
(2) ADOPTION OF BYLAWS, POLICIES, OR GUIDELINES. — 51
(j) The FHSAA shall adopt guidelines to educate athletic 52
coaches, officials, administrators, and student athletes and 53
their parents or guardians of: 54
1. The nature and risk of concussion and head injury. 55
2. First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR) 56
procedures. 57
(n) The FHSAA shall adopt bylaws or polices that require 58
an athletic coach to hold a current certificate of successful 59
course completion in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 60
Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 61
1012.55, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 62
1012.55 Positions for which certificates required. — 63
(2) 64
(b) Completion of a sports safety course shall count for 6 65
hours of required school district inservice instruction for 66
athletic coaching certification if the course is approved by the 67
Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors and 68
meets the following requirements: 69
1. The course consists of at least eight modules. 70
2. The course immediately provides an individual with a 71
"merit" certificate at the time of successful completion. 72
3. The course is delivered through hands -on and online 73
teaching methods. 74
4. The course is a hands -on course taught by either a 75
HB 1479 2024
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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
state-licensed athletic trainer who holds a current certificate 76
from the Board of Certification or a member of the American 77
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 78
5. Hands-on course material is less than 120 pages. 79
6. The course covers sports safety specifically, including 80
procedures for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but 81
excluding coaching principles and procedures for cardiopulmonary 82
resuscitation. 83
7. The course is authored or approved by at least 10 84
health care professionals, including doctors of medicine, 85
doctors of osteopathy, registered nurses, physical therapists, 86
and certified athletic trainers. 87
8. The course is revised and reviewed for updates at least 88
once every 30 months. 89
9. The course is available to the general public for a 90
retail price under $50. 91
10. Each course examination is automated and taken online 92
with a score of 80 percent or better for successful completion. 93
Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 94