The Florida House has approved a bill that will allow high school head coaches use personal funds to support their players with things like food, transportation physical therapy and rehabilitation services.
The bill was inspired by the suspension of former NFL Quarterback and Miami Northwestern High School football coach Teddy Bridgewater, after he paid for meals and uber rides for his players. Under the bill, head coaches would be able to spend up to $15,000on their players a year, with only one purchase per student athlete.
North Miami-Dade Democratic Representative Wallace Aristide supported the bill.
“You coach people that are homeless, they have no place to stay. You coach people that have issues that sometimes people don't understand, and you don't share those issues with everybody. So, you had a coach in Miami-Dade decided he was going to help his players. He wanted to do something for his young men in his program, because he understands his community,” he said.
The House took up and amended the Senate’s version of the bill, which means the measure will have to head back for another look from the Senate.