HF 2686 (LSB 6742HV (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2686

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2307)

A BILL FOR

An Act authorizing the board of educational examiners to issue provisional coaching authorizations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.165, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  (1)  The board shall issue a transitional coaching authorization to an individual who is at least twenty-one years of age and who provides verification of an offer of a coaching position by a school or a consortium of schools, but who has not completed the coursework required for a coaching authorization as specified in paragraph “a”. A transitional coaching authorization is valid for not more than one year, shall not be renewed, and is valid only in the school or consortium of schools making the offer of the coaching position. A consortium of schools may include a school district, a school district school attendance center, or an accredited nonpublic school, or any combination thereof. However, prior to issuing a transitional coaching authorization to an individual under this paragraph “b”, subparagraph (1), the board shall ensure that the individual meets all of the following requirements:
   (1)  (a)  Completes a shortened course of training relating to the code of professional rights and responsibilities, practices, and ethics developed in accordance with section 256.146, subsection 1, paragraph “a”, by the board specifically for transitional coaches.
   (2)  (b)  Completes the child and dependent adult abuse mandatory reporter training required by sections 232.69 and 235B.16.
   (3)  (c)  Completes a nationally recognized concussion in youth sports training course.
   (4)  (d)  Complies with the background investigation requirements established by the board pursuant to section 256.146, subsection 16.
   (2)  (a)  The board shall issue a provisional coaching authorization to an individual who satisfies all of the following requirements:
   (i)  The individual complies with the background investigation requirements established by the board pursuant to section 256.146, subsection 16.
   (ii)  The individual successfully completes training related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
   (iii)  The individual successfully completes training related to how to use an automated external defibrillator.
   (iv)  The individual successfully completes the concussion in sports course created by the national federation of state high school associations.
   (v)  The individual successfully completes the child and dependent adult abuse mandatory reporter training required by sections 232.69 and 235B.16.
   (b)  A provisional coaching authorization shall expire upon the earlier of the end of the sport season for which the individual was issued the provisional coaching authorization or the passage of one hundred eighty days from the issuance of the provisional coaching authorization.
   (c)  A provisional coaching authorization shall not be renewed.
   (d)  The board shall allow an individual who holds a provisional coaching authorization to convert the provisional coaching authorization to a coaching authorization if the individual does any of the following:
   (i)  Successfully completes the requirements established in paragraph “a”.
   (ii)  Successfully completes a coaching education course provided by an area education agency or coordinated by an area education agency pursuant to section 273.2, subsection 8A.
   (iii)  Successfully completes the fundamentals of coaching course created by the national federation of state high school associations.
   (iv)  Successfully completes relevant higher-education coursework, including coursework for which partial credit is provided.
   (v)  Provides the board with evidence of prior coaching experience.
   (vi)  Successfully completes comparable leadership and safety training, including training provided in conjunction with any of the following:
   (A)  Service in the armed forces of the United States.
   (B)  Service in the national guard as defined in section 29A.1.
   (C)  Service as a first responder as defined in section 147A.1.
    Sec. 2.  Section 273.2, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  8A.  The board of an area education agency shall develop a coaching education course that can be used by area education agency employees to provide training to individuals who hold a provisional coaching authorization and are trying to convert such authorization to a coaching authorization pursuant to section 256.165, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (2), subparagraph division (d).
    Sec. 3.  Section 279.19B, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (3), Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   (3)  A qualified individual who meets the requirements of section 256.165, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (1), and possesses a transitional coaching authorization issued by the board of educational examiners.
    Sec. 4.  Section 279.19B, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (4)  A qualified individual who meets the requirements of section 256.165, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (2), and possesses a provisional coaching authorization issued by the board of educational examiners.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill authorizes the board of educational examiners (BOEE) to issue provisional coaching authorizations.
   The BOEE is required to issue a provisional coaching authorization to an individual who complies with established background check requirements; successfully completes training related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and how to use an automated external defibrillator; successfully completes the concussion in sports course created by the national federation of state high school associations (NFHS); and who successfully completes child and dependent adult abuse mandatory reporter training. A provisional coaching authorization expires upon the earlier of the end of the sport season for which the individual was issued the authorization or the passage of 180 days from the issuance of the authorization.
   The bill requires the BOEE to allow an individual holding a provisional coaching authorization to convert the authorization to a coaching authorization if the individual successfully completes the preexisting requirements to obtain a coaching authorization; successfully completes a coaching education course provided by an area education agency; successfully completes the coaching credential stack created by NFHS; successfully completes relevant higher-education coursework; provides the BOEE with evidence of prior coaching experience; or if the individual successfully completes comparable leadership and safety training.
   Current law authorizes a school district to employ for head coach of any interscholastic athletic activities, or for assistant coach of any interscholastic athletic activity, an individual who possesses a coaching authorization issued by the BOEE or a teaching license with a coaching endorsement. Current law also establishes the order in which school districts are required to consider applicants for such positions, with individuals who possess a valid teaching license with a proper coaching endorsement being considered first, individuals who possess a coaching authorization being considered second, and individuals with a transitional coaching authorization being considered third. The bill provides that individuals who possess a provisional coaching authorization shall be considered fourth.
   The bill requires area education agencies to develop a coaching education course that can be used by area education agency employees to provide training to individuals who hold a provisional coaching authorization and are trying to convert such authorization to a coaching authorization.