Florida HB 1253: Athletics in Public K-12 Schools

Bill Text

CS/CS/HB 1253 2026

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hb1253-02-c2
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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 athletics in public K-12 schools; 2
amending s. 1006.20, F.S.; requiring the Florida High 3
School Athletic Association to adopt bylaws 4
authorizing certain coaches to support the welfare of 5
a student by using personal funds to provide certain 6
effects to the student; providing requirements for 7
such bylaws; requiring the coach to report such use of 8
personal funds to the association; providing that such 9
use of personal funds is presumed not to be an 10
impermissible benefit; providing exceptions; providing 11
a limitation on the annual amount of personal funds a 12
coach may use per athletic team per year, beginning on 13
a specified date; authorizing other athletic 14
associations to adopt similar bylaws; amending ss. 15
768.135, 1002.20, 1006.165, and 1012.468, F.S.; 16
conforming cross-references; providing an effective 17
date. 18
19
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 20
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Section 1. Present paragraphs (c) through (n) of 22
subsection (2) of section 1006.20, Florida Statutes, are 23
redesignated as paragraphs (d) through (o), respectively, and a 24
new paragraph (c) is added to that subsection, to read: 25

CS/CS/HB 1253 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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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

1006.20 Athletics in public K-12 schools.— 26
(2) ADOPTION OF BYLAWS, POLICIES, OR GUIDELINES.— 27
(c) The FHSAA shall adopt bylaws that authorize a coach, 28
employed by a school or school district, to support the welfare 29
of a student he or she coaches by using personal funds to 30
provide, in good faith, effects such as food, transportation, 31
physical therapy, and rehabilitation services. The bylaws must 32
require a parent to provide written consent before a coach may 33
provide such support to a student. The bylaws must also define 34
the term "athletic team" to include junior varsity and varsity 35
levels, based on designation requirements of s. 1006.205(3)(a), 36
and restrict such use of funds to one coach per athletic team. 37
1. A coach who uses personal funds to provide such effects 38
must report such use to the FHSAA in a manner provided by FHSAA 39
bylaw. 40
2. Such use of personal funds is presumed not to be an 41
impermissible benefit, unless such use of personal funds is: 42
a. Not reported; 43
b. Reported and deemed not to be in good faith by the 44
FHSAA; or 45
c. Used for recruiting purposes. 46
3. Beginning July 1, 2026, the maximum amount of personal 47
funds a coach may use per athletic team per year is $15,000. 48
49
Any other organization governing interscholastic athletic 50

CS/CS/HB 1253 2026

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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

competition in this state may adopt bylaws similar to those 51
required by this paragraph. 52
Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 768.135, Florida 53
Statutes, is amended to read: 54
768.135 Volunteer team physicians; immunity.— 55
(3) A practitioner licensed under chapter 458, chapter 56
459, chapter 460, or s. 464.012 or registered under s. 464.0123 57
who gratuitously and in good faith conducts an evaluation 58
pursuant to s. 1006.20(2)(d) s. 1006.20(2)(c) is not liable for 59
any civil damages arising from that evaluation unless the 60
evaluation was conducted in a wrongful manner. 61
Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (17) of section 62
1002.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 63
1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public 64
school students must receive accurate and timely information 65
regarding their child's academic progress and must be informed 66
of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12 67
students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory 68
rights including, but not limited to, the following: 69
(17) ATHLETICS; PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL.— 70
(b) Medical evaluation and electrocardiogram.—Before 71
participating in athletics, students must: 72
1. Satisfactorily pass a medical evaluation each year, 73
unless the parent objects in writing based on religious tenets 74
or practices, in accordance with s. 1006.20(2)(e) s. 75

CS/CS/HB 1253 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1006.20(2)(d); and 76
2. As applicable under s. 1006.20, receive an 77
electrocardiogram, unless the parent objects in writing based on 78
religious tenets or practices or secures a certificate of 79
medical exception in accordance with s. 1006.20(2)(e) s. 80
1006.20(2)(d) or the school district is unable to obtain a 81
public or private partnership for the provision of