The Florida Senate has given one of the FHSAA’s most prominent critics a bigger voice in the state’s governing body for high school sports.
Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland) will join the Florida High School Athletic Association’s public liaison advisory committee immediately after being appointed to the position by Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) on Thursday.
The 15-member committee meets four times a year to give the FHSAA outside input on its policies and procedures.
Stargel has been a key legislator in two controversial bills that targeted the FHSAA, the Gainesville-based non-profit organization.
The first, House Bill 1403, eased the FHSAA’s transfer restrictions and gave more discretion to school districts to determine its own policies. Stargel spearheaded its passage through the state legislature, and it became law in 2012.
The second, Senate Bill 1164, tried to overhaul the FHSAA’s finances, structure and remaining transfer restrictions. A companion bill passed the House but died in the Senate’s education committee earlier this year.