New York Senate Bill S05275

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/20/25
• Refer: 2/20/25
• Engrossed: 3/25/25
• Refer: 3/25/25

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

S05275 amends the Education Law to create a limited authorization for certain out-of-state athletic trainers to practice in New York for specific events. The bill covers people who are licensed or title-protected as athletic trainers, or foreign-credentialed athletic therapists in good standing, in another state, territory, or country, and who have a written agreement to serve athletes and team personnel for a recognized U.S. sports team, an out-of-state secondary school, a postsecondary institution, a professional or amateur athletic organization, or a performing arts troupe. The authorization is narrow in scope and time. Covered individuals may provide athletic training services only at a discrete sanctioned team sporting event or traveling performance in New York, and only during the period from five days before through three days after the event or performance. The bill also extends to certain venues and programs, including schools, athletic organizations, nonprofit athletic organizations, dance organizations, military academies, U.S. facilities, fire training programs, and police training schools or academies. The bill’s practical effect is to add a temporary, event-based exemption from New York’s usual licensure requirements for athletic trainers, while still subjecting these practitioners to the Board of Regents’ jurisdiction and professional discipline as if they were licensees. It also authorizes the necessary regulatory changes to be made immediately and ties the effective date to chapter 733 of the laws of 2023, indicating that it is meant to fit within an existing statutory framework for temporary practice. The overall sentiment appears strongly favorable. The bill passed the Senate Higher Education Committee unanimously and later passed the Senate floor by wide margins, with no recorded opposition in the provided votes. That voting history suggests broad support for easing temporary cross-border practice for athletic trainers in limited circumstances. There is little visible controversy in the available materials, but the main policy issue is the balance between workforce flexibility and professional oversight. Support appears to center on allowing qualified out-of-state professionals to cover short-term sporting and performance events in New York, while the built-in limits and disciplinary oversight address concerns about public protection, scope of practice, and accountability.

Impact

This bill would amend section 8356 of the Education Law by adding a new subdivision that creates a temporary, event-specific exemption from New York licensure for certain athletic trainers and athletic therapists licensed or credentialed elsewhere. It would allow them to provide services in New York only for discrete sanctioned events or performances and only within a limited time window around those events, while making them subject to New York disciplinary authority and professional misconduct rules as though they were licensees. The bill therefore affects the regulation of athletic training practice, interstate professional mobility, and oversight by the Board of Regents and the Commissioner of Education.

Sentiment

The available legislative history indicates strong bipartisan and institutional support. The Senate Higher Education Committee approved the bill unanimously, and the Senate floor votes shown were overwhelmingly in favor with no nays. The absence of recorded opposition and the repeated successful floor passage suggest the measure was viewed as a practical, low-conflict adjustment to professional licensing rules for event-based athletic services.

Contention

No major controversy is evident in the provided materials, but the underlying policy tension is between easing temporary access for out-of-state athletic trainers and preserving New York’s licensing standards. Supporters likely view the bill as necessary to ensure coverage for traveling teams, schools, athletic organizations, and performance groups, while the built-in limits, written-agreement requirement, and Regents oversight appear designed to address concerns about unlicensed practice, consumer protection, and accountability. The narrow scope of the exemption suggests any objections would have focused on regulatory control rather than the general concept of temporary practice.