(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Athletic director” means an individual responsible for administering the athletic program of a school or school district under the jurisdiction of a local or regional board of education, and who is responsible for the supervision of athletic coaches.

(2) “Athletic coach” means any person holding a coaching permit issued by the State Board of Education who is hired by a local or regional board of education to coach a sport for a sport season as part of intramural and interscholastic athletics for a school or a school district.

(3) “School professional” means any school teacher, administrator or other personnel certified by the State Board of Education pursuant to § 10-145b.

(b) (1) On and after October 1, 2013, any person hired by a local or regional board of education to serve as an athletic director for (A) a school shall hold a (i) certificate issued by the State Board of Education pursuant to § 10-145b and a coaching permit issued by the state board, or (ii) certificate issued by a national athletic administrators association, as approved by the Department of Education, and a coaching permit issued by the state board, or (B) a school district shall hold a (i) certificate issued by the state board pursuant to § 10-145b with an intermediate administrator and supervisor endorsement and a coaching permit issued by the state board, or (ii) master certificate issued by a national athletic administrators association, as approved by the department, and a coaching permit issued by the state board.

(2) Any person who was serving as a director of athletics prior to October 1, 2013, in accordance with subdivision (2), (3) or (4) of subsection (b) of § 10-145d-423 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies and who does not meet the qualifications described in subdivision (1) of this subsection may continue to serve as an athletic director in such school or for such school district. No other local or regional board of education shall hire such person as an athletic director unless such person meets the qualifications described in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(c) An athletic director administering the athletic program of a school or school district shall have the following responsibilities: (1) Ensuring that each athletic coach in the athletic program holds a coaching permit issued by the state board, (2) supervising and evaluating athletic coaches, pursuant to § 10-222e, (3) supervising students participating in interscholastic athletics, (4) possessing knowledge and understanding of all rules and regulations of the governing authority for interscholastic athletics, (5) administering and arranging the scheduling of and transportation to athletic activities and events, (6) administering and arranging the hiring of officials, (7) ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all athletic activities and events, and (8) any other duties relevant to the organization and administration of the athletic program for the school or school district.

(d) Any athletic director responsible for the evaluation of any school professional shall hold a certificate issued by the State Board of Education, pursuant to § 10-145b, with an intermediate administrator and supervisor endorsement.