FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2005


FHSAA to reimburse initial registration fee to contest officials who undergo background screening

GAINESVILLE – The FHSAA Office announced today that the Association will reimburse the initial $34 registration fee to each individual who registers as a contest official for the 2005-06 school year and undergoes the new background screening required by the recently enacted "Jessica Lunsford Act."

The act, which becomes law on Sept. 1, requires all vendors and individuals who contract with district school boards and as a result are given access to school grounds when students are present to be fingerprinted and undergo a criminal background screening. Those individuals who are found to have committed crimes of "moral turpitude" must be denied access to school grounds. Contest officials are not exempt from the law's provisions.

This one-time reimbursement program will assist contest officials with the cost of the background screening, which varies from $61 to more than $80 depending on the county.

"We hope that all contest officials accept this assistance in the good faith that it is offered and renew their registrations for the upcoming school year," said Commissioner John A. Stewart. "There already is a shortage of contest officials in this state. Their ranks are stretched thin. We cannot afford to lose those who may be either disenchanted by or unable to afford the background screening. If we do, many contests will have to be rescheduled to a time when there are officials available to officiate it. Some, unfortunately, may have to be cancelled outright."

In a letter sent by e-mail to more than 100 officials association presidents, Stewart outlined how the reimbursement program will work. Each contest official will register online or by mail and pay their registration fees as they normally would. They then will undergo the background screening through their local district school board office and provide proof of payment for the screening to the local officials association of which they are a member. The local assocation will submit to the FHSAA Office a list of its members who have registered and undergone the background screening. The FHSAA Office, in turn, will mail to the local association the reimbursement for its members.

Only the $34 fee for the first sport registration will be reimbursed. Contest officials will receive no reimbursement of registration fees for additional sports they officiate.

"This reimbursement program will severely impact our operating budget for the new fiscal year," Stewart said. "Our first duty, however, is to the student-athletes. This will be a small price to pay to ensure that they continue to have the opportunity to compete."

About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Floida. It has a membership of more than 700 middle and senior high schools. The FHSAA annually registers more than 6,000 individuals as contest officials in the sports of baseball, basketball, flag football, football, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, track & field, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Contact
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551, ext.170
jwatford@fhsaa.org