If any bill in the 2013 session has disaster written all over it, it's the terrible twins, HB 1279 and SB 1164.
Talk about "unintended consequences."
The bills so many legislators think will merely disarm the uppity Florida High School Athletic Association have calamitous potential.
If they combine and pass, the resultant legislation -- by its invitation to turn high schools into recruiting powerhouses -- will rip apart communities, families, even high school athletes.
Forget your prejudices for a minute.
Whatever your beef with the iron-fisted FHSAA, the private, not-for-profit regulatory authority that makes the rules for Florida's 260,000 student athletes in 800 member schools, has been doing what it does in the midst of a pressure cooker of societal changes for 93 years.
Largely as a result, Florida's high-school athletic programs and the opportunities for all eligible players in 32 different sports and 139-team state championships are envied the country over.
And, apart from the terrible twins' sponsors, Republicans Kelli Stargel of Lakeland in the Senate and Larry Metz of Yalaha in the House, I can't find anybody -- not a soul -- except a group calledAccess for Student Athletes Coalition -- size undetermined -- who wants these measures passed. I keep reading that this group is championing student rights.
Really? Student rights?
Look at some of the proposals in this legislation:
? The elimination of the FHSAA executive director's cell phone and vehicle allowances. He is completely reimbursed for his cell phone and receives more than $11,000 for a vehicle allowance, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
? The executive director couldn't earn more than the governor ($130,273). Now he earns $151,000.
? The FHSAA board would be increased from 16 to 25. The current 16 board members would all be replaced on Sept. 30. The new board would then elect its own executive director, who could not serve more than three consecutive years. The current director can serve six.
? A cut by 50 percent of the FHSAAs revenue from preseason classics and state playoffs.
FHSAA Chief Financial Officer Linda Robertson says a 50 percent cut would ultimately hurt student athletes.
Some of what we spend our money on is to train officials and umpires, to train our coaches. And then to turn around and provide a state championship that we think is second to none in the state of Florida. We have really great championship events at professional fields and arenas, she said.
Robertson said the association shares 85 percent of money from post-season tournaments with its 800 member schools. And the association provides help for schools that have trouble affording the trip to their state championships.
Remember, the FHSAA is a private, not-for-profit organization. It does get some public money, by virtue of what schools pay for activities. But ask yourself, after 93 years, is there any compelling reason for government to stick its big, fat nose in?
Why do we want to destroy the FHSAA?
Here's why: A couple of years ago, the FHSAA ruled that five high school football players in Lakeland (Stargel's district) were ineligible to play after they transferred from one school to another school -- a school with a stronger football program. An investigation revealed three of their parents had falsified residency records to make it seem as if they lived in the school district when they didnt. The FHSAA ruled they were ineligible to play.
The students broke the rules, they paid the consequences. Is that so wrong?
Apparently. Because a year ago along comes HB 1403, which Gov. Rick Scott signed into law. It loosened the FHSAAs reins on eligibility rulings, giving more say to each of the 67 school districts in the state. It's a move where I can find only critics, all of whom lambaste it for creating a toe-in-the-door free agency scenario.
But the current bills go well beyond last years, taking aim at the FHSAAs revenue streams, its board members and the ability to enforce eligibility rulings. Roger Dearing, executive director of FHSAA, fears that with so many districts around the state, proper enforcement and oversight will get lost in red tape and chaos.
In a teleconference call with reporters Tuesday, Dearing said that the bills essentially create free agency in high school and an unlevel playing field for schools that try to do the right thing.The changes these bills propose would undermine sportsmanship and shatter community spirit by allowing some high schools to become recruiting frenzied sports giants.
And this is the "unintended consequences" part of the bill that makes me tremble:
Student athletes' heads are easily turned. High school athletes see how things are done on the college level, on the professional level. Many of them want to "go pro." Their families want it for them, too.
Former NFL and University of Florida wide receiver Reidel Anthony, now a coach at Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, explained it like this: "The recruiting process and free agency are hard enough on professional athletes. I've seen it. You don't want it for our kids. You don't want families sending their kids to one school in the fall for football and another in the winter for basketball and another in the spring for baseball.
"This is going to tear families and kids apart. Sometimes turn family members against each other. It's going to be unfair to schools they leave behind and the other kids who play by the rules. It's going to mean academics are nothing. Minimum emphasis on those.
"These bills get passed and it's going to be a real sad day."
We don't need this, folks. Let's find a less draconian way to deal with problems we might have with the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
