TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – A bill that would allow Florida public high school coaches to spend their own money on student-athletes has cleared the Senate unanimously and is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The legislation, known as the Teddy Bridgewater Act, would require the Florida High School Athletic Association and other governing bodies to permit public high school coaches to pay for items such as food or transportation for student-athletes in need.
Head coaches would be limited to spending up to $15,000 of their own money per team. Parents would also be required to approve the spending.
Florida politics:
The bill includes provisions designed to prevent recruiting abuse.
The measure is named for Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who was suspended by the FHSAA from coaching at his Miami alma mater after he spent thousands of dollars on his student-athletes.
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