FHSAACompliance Seminar 2013Legislative Update

Purpose of the FHSAA

Our Core Value Statement--Bylaw 1.2---The FHSAA provides leadership for the development, supervision, and promotion of interscholastic athletic programs sponsored by its member schools. Participation in these programs enriches the educational experience of qualified student-athletes by providing them with opportunities to compete in an equitable, sportsmanlike, and wholesome manner.

Proposed HB 1279

How it would have specifically affected our schools

New Criteria for Transfers

In Proposed Bill HB 1279--- --- ---School Boards would have the final say on “residency issues:--involving all issues with transfer—following the coach, residence, etc.

When going county to county, the receiving school district would make the decision.

New Criteria for Students (Now) Students must follow certain criteria for

playing at a school. (Zoned to that school, home school zone, charter school requirements, district assignment or district open enrollment, etc… 

In Proposed HB 1279 --Students would be allowed to go anywhere for any extra-curricular activities--- sports, band, chorus, drama, debate team--- (and would also have the right to attend a class at that school if it the extra-curricular activity was an extension of that classroom).

Bottom-line---Students can attend one school and play sports at another.

The FHSAA…

Is the organization approved by the NFHS to run high school sports in the state of Florida.

In Proposed HB 1279---The FHSAA would be terminated as the governing organization in the state for athletics on July 1, 2017. So what would be next?

The FHSAA…

Main objective in this last bill was the deregulation of high school athletics. Who would then govern fair and equal

play? Also, there would be a brand new

board and new Executive Director (for the most part politically appointed)

WE are the FHSAA

Those of us here in this room—we make up this association.

Policies, Bylaws and Procedures are made by the Advisory Groups, Representative Assembly and an Elected Board—we have the power to change the rules---so if you don’t like them, let’s change them together.

We want to be the ones changing these rules--- And, together, let’s communicate with our legislators to stop interfering in high school athletic.

What Do WE Do Now?

2013-14 school years and beyond Let your legislators know the issues Don’t sit back and don’t wait until a bill

is proposed and it slides through the House

What do we need to change or do we stand together and not change?

What Do WE Do Now?

Let’s assess our values Need to hear this from our schools as

you are the FHSAA We will survey you today regarding

these issues. (We will also poll the other sections.) We need to know what values are

schools embrace.

Responsibilities as a Member School Know the issues Lead or express desire to change rules, or

if you believe the rules are good, express your opposition to Legislative interference.

Help secure the future of High School athletics as an even playing field--support the purpose of FHSAA or change the purpose from within.

Let’s work together to save high school athletics in the

state of Florida.