The Virginia Senate Education Committee on Monday passed a bill to establish a five-year program aimed at producing more athletic trainers for West Virginia high schools.
Bill SB 755 states that the "program can serve each high school to create a pipeline for students interested in pursuing careers in sports medicine and athletic training.”
According to MetroNews, the bill creates the West Virginia Secondary School Athletic Trainer and Career Technical Education Program Act through career and technical education (CTE) programs.
The bill's sponsor, Senator Scott Fuller (R-Cabell) said the program is needed to meet a shortage of certified athletic trainers in the state.
“We have an opportunity right here and now,” Fuller said. “I don’t want to be sititng at home this summer when a child overheats because he’s running in practice and there’s nobody there to operate a wet bulb.”
Senator Eric Tarr said he's in favor of the bill but not in its current form.
“As I go through a lot of these ‘shalls’ in this program implementation it’s frought with those type of opportunities throughout the bill,” Tarr said. “While I love the intent, I think t bears further discussion, I can’t vote for this bill as it sits before me.”
Full believes local schools have the money to fund the program, but at present, it's all about priorities.
“The decision is what down here in the budget that we don’t need that isn’t important to our children that really doesn’t matter a whole lot and isn’t as high as a priority as our children, that’s where I’d get the money,” Fuller said.
The bill passed the committee on a voice vote and was sent to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.
