Florida State lawmakers have introduced a proposal to give Governor Ron DeSantis control over the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Board. The bill, titled HB 1279, was introduced by State Representative Webster Barnaby on Tuesday and would give the governor the power to appoint all members of the FHSAA Board.
Currently, the FHSAA Board is made up of representatives from various regions throughout Florida, and they are responsible for making decisions regarding high school athletics in the state.
The FHSAA oversees sports for grades 6 through 12 for its member schools, which include all of the state’s public schools and other institutions which choose to join. 15 of the 16 board positions are selected by schools in four regions of the state while the 16th spot is reserved for the state education commissioner or their designee. Under the proposed legislation, the board would be reduced to eight members, all chosen by the governor, plus the education commissioner.
If this bill passes, the governor would have complete control over these decisions, including setting schedules, deciding on eligibility requirements, and even determining which sports are offered at the high school level.