ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 Florida lawmakers are advancing a plan that would allow high school coaches to use up to $15,000 of their personal funds each year to support student-athlete welfare. <\/p>\n
The measure, known as the \u201cTeddy Bridgewater Act,\u201d passed the Florida Senate unanimously.<\/p>\n
The bill seeks to change current rules governing how K-12 coaches can assist their players financially. <\/p>\n
The legislation follows a high-profile incident in which a coach was penalized for using his own money to provide food and transportation for his team.<\/p>\n
The proposed legislation is named after Bridgewater, a former professional football player who faced disciplinary action while coaching a high school team in the Miami area. <\/p>\n
Bridgewater was suspended last year after he admitted to spending nearly $30,000 of his own money to support his players.<\/p>\n
The funds Bridgewater provided were used to cover the costs of food and transportation for his team\u2019s student-athletes. <\/p>\n
Under current regulations, these types of personal expenditures by coaches were prohibited, leading to his suspension.<\/p>\n
The \u201cBridgewater Act\u201d would establish a specific limit of $15,000 per year on the amount a head coach could legally contribute to player welfare. <\/p>\n
The provision would apply to head coaches across all grade levels from kindergarten through 12th grade.<\/p>\n
The bill will now head to the Florida House of Representatives for consideration. <\/p>\n
It must pass the House and receive the governor\u2019s approval before it can be enacted into law.<\/p>\n
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