NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10823A
SPONSOR: Solages TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the supervision of
athletic trainers
PURPOSE:
This bill increases the maximum number of athletic trainers that a
physician may supervise at one time from four to six. The bill also
maintains existing exceptions for athletic trainers practicing in
secondary schools and institutions of postsecondary education under the
supervision of a physician serving as the medical director for such
school or institution.
SUMMARY:
Section one amends subdivision 2 of section 8351 of the education law to
increase the physician supervision cap for athletic trainers from four
to six.
Section two provides that the act shall take effect immediately.
JUSTIFICATION:
Athletic trainers play a critical role in protecting the health and
safety of athletes and physically active individuals by preventing,
diagnosing, and treating injuries. As demand for athletic training
services continues to grow across schools, colleges, healthcare systems,
and community athletic programs, current supervisory limitations can
create unnecessary staffing constraints and workforce shortages.
Under existing law, physicians may supervise no more than four athletic
trainers at one time, except in certain educational settings. This limi-
tation does not reflect the realities of modern healthcare and sports
medicine practices, where athletic trainers frequently work collabora-
tively within larger multidisciplinary teams and under clearly defined
written protocols.
By increasing the supervision limit from four to six athletic trainers,
this legislation will provide greater flexibility for healthcare provid-
ers and educational institutions while maintaining strong oversight
requirements. Athletic trainers will continue to practice pursuant to
collaboratively developed written agreements or protocols with supervis-
ing physicians, ensuring appropriate standards of care and accountabil-
ity.
This measure will help expand access to athletic training services,
particularly in underserved communities and high-demand settings, while
supporting efficient workforce utilization and improving continuity of
care for athletes and patients throughout New York State.
RACIAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
TBD
GENDER JUSTICE IMPACT:
TBD
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10823--A
IN ASSEMBLY
April 1, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Higher Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the supervision of
athletic trainers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 8351 of the education law, as
2 amended by chapter 733 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 2. Supervision of an athletic trainer by a physician shall be contin-
5 uous but shall not be construed as requiring the physical presence of
6 the supervising physician at the time and place where such services are
7 performed, provided however, that such supervision shall include a
8 signed written agreement or protocol created collaboratively between the
9 supervising physician and licensed athletic trainer. The written agree-
10 ment or protocol shall address and describe the nature and scope of
11 athletic training services to be performed by such licensed athletic
12 trainer, in accordance with this title. Such written agreement or proto-
13 col shall be reviewed at least once a year by the supervising physician
14 and athletic trainer and revised if necessary. No physician shall super-
15 vise more than [four] six athletic trainers, except that such limitation
16 shall not apply for athletic trainers practicing in secondary schools,
17 and institutions of postsecondary education, who are practicing under
18 the supervision of a physician who serves as the medical director for
19 such school or institution.
20 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15386-02-6
