Addressing Concerns: Clarifying Changes to the FIRST in Texas Consent & Release Form and Insurance

San Antonio, Texas – At FIRST in Texas, we deeply value the trust and engagement of our community and want to address concerns regarding rumored updates to the FIRST in Texas Consent & Release (C&R) form and concerns about our insurance. We hope the information below provides clarity and reassurance, and if not, our door is always open.

Why the Form Has Changed Over the Years

As folks may know, FIRST in Texas and FIRST are two separate nonprofit organizations. Since our founding in 2010, FIRST in Texas has worked alongside FIRST to deliver life-changing STEM programs across our state. As FIRST partnerships dissolved and our adoption of “District Play” for FIRST Robotics Competition moved forward, we took on a greater responsibility in ensuring the continued success and equitable delivery of FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST Robotics Competition, and FIRST LEGO League.  This expanded leadership has required us to indemnify FIRST and offer state-level guidance and oversight, which led to important updates in our documentation.

The Inclusion of “Indemnity” in the Form is not new

Since at least 2022, our Consent & Release form has included indemnity language, a common and necessary practice for nonprofit organizations like ours. This update ensures clarity in the legal relationship between participants, FIRST in Texas, and FIRST. While this language was not new, we made formatting changes in 2022—such as bolding certain sections—based on our attorney’s recommendation to ensure the form met the proper legal standards.

For the upcoming 2024 season, we’ve made a small but significant addition: a Safety Pledge. This new section reinforces our unwavering commitment to the safety and security of every participant, volunteer, and community member involved in our programs. It’s a reminder that safety is at the core of everything we do.

You can review a previous version of the form hosted of the FIRST website that was used for the 2022 season. https://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/frc/team-resources/2023_FIRST_Texas_Consent_Form.pdf

Here is the FIRST Consent & Release form from 2021. This form also includes “indemnity” – https://www.ftcpenn.org/wp-content/uploads/FIRST-Consent-and-Release-Form.pdf

Hosting of the Form

Previously, FIRST hosted many forms, including our Consent & Release form. However, as FIRST stopped hosting non-FIRST forms. This change simply reflects the operational shifts required as our role in delivering these programs has evolved.

Insurance Coverage: More Protection, Greater Stability

We’re happy to report that FIRST in Texas has taken significant steps to enhance our coverage. Since 2021, we have consistently expanded our insurance protections to better serve and safeguard our community:

• 2021: We had $1M in liability coverage, but volunteers and some off-season events were not covered under this plan.
• 2022: We raised our liability coverage to $3M, ensuring over 200 events a year were protected. We also added insurance for staff vehicles, rented vehicles, and volunteer insurance for those serving in an official capacity. While volunteers have certain legal protections in Texas, we wanted to go above and beyond to make sure there is additional coverage in case it’s ever needed for those working within their assigned role.

Even with the enhanced protections and broader coverage above, we’ve managed to keep our insurance costs stable. This is due to the strong processes we’ve put in place to mitigate risk and a team approach to create a safe, responsible environment for all.

Our Organization is Growing and Thriving

We want to assure the community that FIRST in Texas is financially stable and continues to grow. Our mission remains the same – to serve, inspire, and create opportunities for students across Texas. We’re more active and involved in communities than ever, and remain committed to maintaining the transparency, safety, and trust that have been the foundation of our success.

We deeply appreciate the support from you all, and know that together, we will empower the next generation of great innovators, change-makers, and leaders. 

Thank you for being part of the FIRST in Texas family. Let’s keep building a brighter future—together.