HB 7039 - Extracurricular Activities Summary

• Expands eligibility to participate in public school extracurricular activities to include students from home education programs, unaffiliated private schools, charter schools, and Florida Virtual School full-time students, provided they meet academic and conduct requirements.

• Allows schools to join multiple athletic associations simultaneously and prohibits the FHSAA from denying or retaliatory action against member schools competing with non-member schools.

• Establishes recruiting violation penalties including escalating fines ($5,000 for first offense, $7,500 for second, $10,000 for third) and potential suspension from coaching, with third offenses subject to educator certificate revocation.

• Requires the FHSAA to provide procedures for resolving student eligibility disputes through informal conferences and neutral third-party resolution within 30 days.

• Effective July 1, 2016.