ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND WOMEN'S AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 4983
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: MARCH 20, 2025
The Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4983.
As amended by the committee, this bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop a student-athlete eating disorder awareness training program and requires certain coaches of interscholastic sports, cheerleading and dance programs, and collegiate sports to complete the training program.
The training program, developed in consultation with the Secretary of Higher Education and the Commissioner of Health, is required to include information on: the types of eating disorders and risk factors for developing an eating disorder; how to identify the behaviors and symptoms exhibited by an individual with an eating disorder; how to prevent eating disorders among student-athletes; information on the services available to a student with an eating disorder offered through the State, county, public institution of higher education, or public school, as applicable; and protocols for connecting a student-athlete with a potential eating disorder with available services. Additionally, the bill requires the commissioner and secretary to update the program as necessary and, in developing the program, consider any information available from a State or national athletic association or conference or mental health association.
Under the bill, beginning with the first full school year or academic year, as applicable, following the establishment of the student-athlete eating disorder awareness training program, a person who is appointed as a coach of a middle school or high school interscholastic sport, a middle school or high school cheerleading or dance program, or a collegiate sport, and an athletic trainer employed by a public school or public institution of higher education is required to complete the training program every two years. A coach or athletic trainer is required to initially complete the training program within six months of the first full school year or academic year, as applicable, following the establishment of the training program. The coach or athletic trainer is then required to complete the training program every two years thereafter. Finally, a newly appointed coach or newly employed athletic trainer is required to complete the training program within six months of their appointment or employment. Completion of the student-athlete eating disorder awareness training program, established under the bill, by an athletic trainer may be applicable towards continuing athletic trainer education requirements under current law.
Additionally, the bill each board of education and governing board of a public institution of higher education to adopt a policy detailing the protocol that a coach, athletic trainer, or other staff member is to follow when it is suspected that a student-athlete may have an eating disorder.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
The committee amended the bill to provide that completion of the student-athlete eating disorder awareness training program, established under the bill, may be applicable towards the continuing education requirements for athletic trainers under current law.