SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 317
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: MARCH 24, 2025
The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably and with
committee amendments Senate Bill No. 317.
This bill revises the “Athletic Training Licensure Act,” P.L.1984,
c.203 (C.45:9-37.35 et seq.).
As amended, the bill updates the definition of “athletic training” in
to include the treatment of a physically active person for injury
prevention and health management; the clinical evaluation and
assessment of a physically active person for an injury or illness, or
both; and the rehabilitation and reconditioning of a physically active
person’s injury or illness, or both.
The bill also clarifies that athletic trainer law is not to be construed
as authorizing the interpretation of data for the purpose of diagnosing
disease, organic condition or the practice of various licensed health
care professions, including the practice of medicine and surgery,
chiropractic, podiatry, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or
prosthetics, by a person who is not licensed to practice such
profession. The bill’s revisions to the law include various amendments
to delete references to “athlete,” thereby acknowledging the fact that
athletic trainers provide services to physically active persons
generally, rather than athletes specifically.
The bill requires athletic trainers to display, or carry on the athletic
trainer’s person if displaying is not possible, a practicing license at any
place the athletic trainer renders services.
The bill defines illnesses that may require immediate intervention
by an athletic trainer, acting with the consent and under supervision of
a physician.
The bill adjusts educational requirements for athletic trainers, and
provides that trainers must have graduated or completed a program
that led to a degree in professional athletic training that meets the
academic standards for athletic trainers established by the Commission
on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education or its successor
organization.
This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session
pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes
required by technical review, which has been performed. 2
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS :
The committee amended the bill to:
(1) replace references to the treatment of individuals with
references to physically active persons;
(2) define illnesses that may require immediate intervention by an
athletic trainer, acting with the consent and under supervision of a
physician;
(3) adjust educational requirements for athletic trainers, and
provide that trainers must have graduated or completed a program that
led to a degree in professional athletic training that meets the academic
standards for athletic trainers established by the Commission on
Accreditation of Athletic Training Education or its successor
organization;
(4) replace references to the National Athletic Trainers'
Association Board of Certification, Inc., with references to the Board
of Certification for the Athletic Trainer; and
(5) make certain technical corrections.