(a)  A pilot project shall use grant funds for all of the following purposes:

(1)  To provide onsite nationally certified athletic trainers to participating schools. The project may provide a certified athletic trainer, or funds to help pay the costs associated with ensuring that there is an onsite athletic trainer, for at least 30 hours per week. Funds received pursuant to this section shall be used only to provide supplemental staff or services and shall not displace or reduce existing staff or services. Athletic trainers provided pursuant to this section shall not displace or reduce the hours or benefits available to any classified or certified employee who provides athletic training services for participating schools prior to the effective date of this section. A participating school that currently employs an athletic trainer shall coordinate the use of his or her services with the pilot project.

(2)  To provide appropriate medical supplies and other supplies necessary to prevent and care for sports-related injuries.

(3)  To provide in-service meetings for coaches and trainers, and to ensure that coaches and trainers receive first aid and CPR certification.

(4)  To provide mentoring opportunities for pupils interested in the medical and athletic training fields.

(5)  To provide community educational seminars for pupils, parents, trainers, coaches, and administrators on nutrition, the avoidance of drugs, and on injuries and prevention.

(6)  To inform pupils about the availability of low-cost health insurance, including Medi-Cal and the Healthy Families Program.

(7)  To provide strength training workshops for pupil-athletes and an off-season training program.

(b)  Health care providers, including athletic trainers who participate in the pilot project shall not refer pupils to their own practice, to the practice of the other health care providers participating in the pilot project, or to the practice of other health care providers in whose practice they have a financial interest.

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 553, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2002.)