To Amend The Arkansas Athletic Trainers Act; And To Clarify The Definition Of "athlete" Within The Arkansas Athletic Trainers Act.
Summary
SB95 amends the Arkansas Athletic Trainers Act to broaden and clarify who is covered by the term “athlete” for purposes of athletic training services. Under the bill, an athlete includes not only individuals in interscholastic, intramural, intercollegiate, professional, and sanctioned recreational sports, but also people participating in activities related to recreation, sport, exercise, or tactical duty. The bill also adds a new definition of “tactical duty” to mean activities associated with law enforcement, military, or rescue services.
The bill further revises the definition of “direct supervision” to specify that an athletic trainer must be supervised in a clinical setting by a supervising physical therapist or physician who is readily available for consultation and is on the premises. Overall, the measure appears intended to modernize the statute and align athletic trainer coverage with a wider range of activities and settings, including public safety and tactical environments.
Impact
SB95 would amend Arkansas Code § 17-93-402 within the Arkansas Athletic Trainers Act by expanding the statutory definition of “athlete,” adding a definition of “tactical duty,” and clarifying the supervision requirements for athletic trainers. The practical effect is to extend the scope of individuals and activities that may receive athletic training services under the Act, including law enforcement, military, and rescue personnel, while also tightening the language around on-site clinical supervision by physicians or physical therapists.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears technical and clarifying in nature rather than controversial, with an apparent goal of updating professional definitions and expanding coverage to tactical and public safety contexts.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the expansion of the term “athlete” beyond traditional sports participants to include recreation, exercise, and tactical duty activities. That broader scope could raise questions about how far the Arkansas Athletic Trainers Act should extend and whether the added categories could affect licensing, supervision, or service obligations. Another possible issue is the revised “direct supervision” language, which may be scrutinized for how strictly it requires the supervising physician or physical therapist to be present and available in clinical settings.