CS/HB 859 - Extracurricular Activities Summary

• Establishes a right for K-12 public school students who meet academic and conduct requirements to participate in extracurricular activities at any public school they could attend through open enrollment provisions, or to develop agreements to participate at private schools.

• Allows students enrolled full-time in virtual instruction programs, virtual charter schools, or Florida Virtual School to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities at their assigned public school or a private school if they meet eligibility and residency requirements.

• Permits public school students whose school does not offer a particular extracurricular activity to participate in that activity at another public school or private school, provided they meet eligibility, academic progress, conduct, and fee requirements.

• Makes parents responsible for transporting their children to extracurricular activities and exempts schools, district boards, and FHSAA from civil liability for injuries during such transportation.

• Deletes the enrollment size limitation for non-FHSAA member private schools, allowing students from private schools of any size (previously limited to 125 students or fewer) to participate in interscholastic sports at public schools.

• Effective date: July 1, 2013.