New York Assembly Bill A02643

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/21/25
• Refer: 1/21/25
• Report Pass: 6/10/25
• Refer: 6/10/25
• Report Pass: 6/11/25
• Engrossed: 6/11/25
• Refer: 6/11/25
• Engrossed: 6/12/25
• Enrolled: 11/17/25
• Chaptered: 11/21/25
• Passed: 11/21/25

Caption

Permits certain licensed athletic trainers who are licensed to practice in another state, territory or country to provide athletic training services to athletes and team personnel at a discrete sanctioned team sporting event or performance in this state.

Summary

A02643 amends the Education Law to create a limited exemption allowing certain out-of-state athletic trainers, including those licensed or title-protected in another state, territory, or country and in good standing, to provide services in New York under specified conditions. The bill applies when the trainer has a written agreement to serve athletes and team personnel connected to a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee-recognized team, an out-of-state secondary school, a postsecondary institution, a professional or amateur sports organization, or a performing arts troupe. The authorization is narrow: services may be provided only at a discrete sanctioned team sporting event or traveling performance in New York, and only within a defined window beginning five days before and ending three days after the event or performance. The bill also extends to certain venues and training settings, including schools, athletic organizations, dance organizations, military academies, and U.S. facilities, fire training programs, and police training schools or academies, but only for the covered event or performance and the covered athletes or personnel.

Impact

The bill adds a new subdivision to section 8356 of the Education Law, creating a temporary, event-based pathway for qualified out-of-state athletic trainers to practice in New York without obtaining a New York license for the limited purpose described. It also subjects these individuals to the Board of Regents’ personal and subject matter jurisdiction, disciplinary authority, and professional misconduct rules as if they were licensees, thereby preserving state oversight and enforcement authority while expanding access to services for visiting teams and performers.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It advanced unanimously through the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and Assembly Rules Committee, then passed both the Assembly and Senate floor votes without any recorded nays. That voting history suggests the measure was viewed as a practical, noncontroversial licensing accommodation for athletic and performance-related events.

Contention

No committee transcript or recorded floor opposition is provided, so no explicit policy dispute is documented in the available materials. The main issues implicit in the bill’s design are the scope of the exemption and the balance between workforce flexibility and professional regulation: supporters likely favor easier access to qualified trainers for traveling teams and performances, while any potential concern would center on ensuring out-of-state practitioners remain accountable to New York standards. The bill addresses that concern by making them subject to Regents discipline and misconduct rules during the limited practice window.