FHSAA Executive Director Roger Dearing’s statement regarding the 21-18 passing of SB 1704:
Out of the 695 FHSAA member high schools, not one of them was asking for this bill. We serve our member schools. This is not something that our member schools asked for, and certainly by the overwhelming objection from the schools, this is something they didn’t want.
Who is this bill trying to serve? The FHSAA is part of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and almost every state has the same rules regarding transfers and eligibility. Our rules are not more stringent than other states and we base our rules on NFHS requirements.
We believe the Florida Legislature should let the FHSAA Board of Directors and the Representative Assembly determine the rules and policies for the Association. If the Governor signs this bill, we will work within the bill’s parameters, but this is not good for interscholastic athletics in the state of Florida.
The shake up…
The final bill (HB 1403) going to the Governor includes:
Allow a student who obtains an approved transfer to participate in athletics right away.
Allow school boards to approve transfers among public schools.
Put the burden of proof on high school administrators to prove wrongdoing if they suspect “recruiting” when an athlete transfers.
Regulate investigators and sanction coaches who commit major violations.
Require an expedited appeals process.
Provide requirements for de novo decisions on appeal.
Does not make membership in the FHSAA mandatory for any school.
Require the FHSAA to award membership to any school seeking.
FHSAA may not deny or discourage interscholastic competition between its member schools and non-FHSAA member Florida schools.
FHSAA can not take any discriminatory action against any of its member schools that participate in interscholastic competition with non-FHSAA member Florida schools.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, if the FHSAA decides a student-athlete was recruited or in possible violation of other rules, it can fine the school, sanction coaches or move the program to a higher competitive classification. But the student-athlete may not be declared ineligible for recruiting violations unless they are found to have falsified enrollment or eligibility documents or accepted impermissible benefits. link is http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/highschool/os-hs-fhsaa-eligibility-bill-close-to-law-20120308,0,7290313.story