NY lawmakers to remove licensing hurdle for MLB, NBA trainers

When the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Lakers, or Indiana Fever come to town, they’ll be able to bring their athletic trainers along, thanks to New York state lawmakers.

The state Legislature passed a bill this week that would clear up a legal conundrum for out-of-state and international sports teams, who feared they soon wouldn’t be able to bring their training staff to athletic events in the Empire State because of new state licensing rules set to take effect later this year.

If Gov. Kathy Hochul signs it into law, athletic trainers licensed in other states or countries will be able to practice in New York if they’re in town with a performing arts troupe or sports team, including those in all of the major professional sports leagues.

The bill has support from the four major professional men’s sports leagues, including Major League Baseball, whose lobbyists worked the halls of the state Capitol in recent days, ensuring it got passed.

State Sen. Jamaal Bailey, a Bronx Democrat who sponsors the measure, said his office also heard from trainers for the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks, Liberty, Yankees and Mets. They argued that being unable to bring training staff to New York would raise concerns about players’ safety.

“ I think this is something that was important to all of the teams,” Bailey said. “This might be the only time that you've ever seen the Knicks and the Nets on the same page.”

The state Assembly approved the measure Wednesday. The Senate passed it Thursday.

The bill would make a key change to a 2023 law that overhauled the regulatory process for athletic trainers in New York. The law established a more rigorous licensing process as well as rules that require trainers who interact with children to report suspected cases of abuse to the proper authorities.

The 2023 law is set to take effect this December. But it didn’t include an exception for out-of-state or internationally licensed trainers who make a visit to New York with their employer, which led lawmakers to pass the new bill this week.

The bill would let out-of-state athletic trainers operate in New York if they’re in good standing in their home state or country and have a written agreement to provide services to a professional or amateur sports team, performing arts troupe or U.S. Olympic organization that has an event in New York.

Those trainers would be able to work in New York for up to five days before the event and up to three days after, according to the legislation. They’d be subject to the same regulations and disciplinary procedures as trainers who are licensed in the state.

“ We wanted to clarify the law to ensure that sport teams coming into New York state can have their athletic trainers practice in the state and avoid any liability or insurance issues,” said Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, a Long Island Democrat who sponsors the bill in her chamber.

The National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and the National Hockey League issued a joint memo in support of the bill, saying it would “allow professional sporting events to continue to operate in New York state without issue.”

“We believe that the bill is in the best interests of player health and safety and will help ensure that athletic trainers who are licensed and in good standing in their home states can continue to provide high-quality treatment during their team’s games,” MLB spokesperson Michael Teevan said in a statement.

Hochul hasn’t given any indication about whether she intends to sign the legislation into law. But it has no major opposition — and the Legislature passed it unanimously, with the New York State Athletic Trainers’ Association among those who support it.

Avi Small, a spokesperson for the governor, said Hochul “will review the legislation.”