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SD 2282

An Act relative to athletic training

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Barry Finegold

Broadens and aligns Massachusetts athletic trainer roles in schools, with annual head-injury safety training and a 180-day deadline to update regulations.

House concurred
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Bill Summary · SD 2282

Summary: An Act relative to athletic training (Senate Docket No. 2282)

Status: House concurred. Referred to the Public Health Committee on February 27, 2025. Similar matter previously filed in 2023-2024 (House No. 4565).

Purpose: The bill broadens and aligns the scope of athletic training with public school athletic programs, updates terminology, and strengthens training requirements and administrative oversight related to athletic trainers in Massachusetts.

Key provisions

1) Expand labeling in school-related sections (Sections 1–2)
- Amends Section 8A of Chapter 69 (public school context) in subsections (b) and (c), paragraph (7) by inserting the word “athletic” after the word “coaches.”
- Effect: Clarifies or expands the scope to explicitly reference athletic-related personnel alongside coaches in applicable provisions (contextual alignment with athletic training in schools).

2) Head injury safety training requirement for athletic trainers (Section 3)
- Amends Section 54A of Chapter 71 to add: “… or a licensed athletic trainer, who have completed an annual head injury safety training as required pursuant to 105 CMR 201.007.”
- Effect: Requires licensed athletic trainers to complete annual head injury safety training, consistent with requirements for other personnel.

3) Broadened definition of “Athletic trainer” (Section 4)
- Amends Section 23A of Chapter 112 by striking the phrase that previously limited an athletic trainer to practice only with schools, teams, or organizations with which the trainer is associated.
- Effect: Removes the limitation that restricted practice to specific affiliated settings, potentially allowing athletic trainers to practice beyond those affiliations.

4) Administrative rule update timeline (Section 5)
- Directs the Board of Allied Health Professions to review and update applicable rules and regulations to reflect the act not later than 180 days after enactment.
- Effect: Establishes a concrete regulatory-update deadline to implement changes.

Affected parties and impact

  • Licensed athletic trainers: Subject to updated definitions, broader practice scope, and required annual head injury safety training.
  • Public school athletic programs and athletic staff/coaches: Language updates to include “athletic” in related provisions, with potential implications for the role of athletic personnel in schools.
  • Board of Allied Health Professions: Responsible for updating rules and regulations to reflect these changes within 180 days of enactment.
  • Students and the public: Indirect beneficiaries through reinforced head injury safety training and clarified access to athletic trainers in school settings.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Enactment-driven timing: Rule updates required within 180 days after enactment (Section 5).
  • Training alignment: Annual head injury safety training for licensed athletic trainers as per 105 CMR 201.007 (Section 3).
  • Legislative track: Referred to Public Health Committee on introduction; status indicates House concurrence with Senate language.

Overall, the bill aims to clarify and expand the role and oversight of athletic trainers in Massachusetts schools and related settings, while aligning training requirements and regulatory duties with the proposed changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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