National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

June 16, 1997

Divisions II, III legislation deadline July 15

The deadline is approaching for Divisions II and III institutions and conferences to submit legislative proposals for the Association's 1998 Convention.

Divisions II and III are continuing to legislate using the Convention process, but Division I will switch August 1 to the conference-representation process that was approved at the 1996 and 1997 Conventions. It therefore will not hold legislative sessions at the Convention.

The Divisions II and III deadline for Convention proposals remains unchanged from the past. The deadline is 5 p.m. (Central time) July 15.

However, another key requirement for the submission of legislation has changed in Division II only.

The number of sponsors required to propose legislation in Division II has increased from eight to 15 active member institutions as the result of action at the 1997 Convention.

In a related change, at least two chief elected or executive officers of member conferences (such as a conference commissioner) can submit a proposal on behalf of 15 or more active conference members, as long as those sponsoring institutions are listed and the proposal is signed by the chair of the conference's official presidential administrative group (or by at least two chief executive officers of a conference's member institutions if no such group exists).

The number of sponsors required to propose legislation in Division III remains unchanged.

A minimum of eight active Division III member institutions are required to propose legislation. Legislation also can be submitted by a chief conference officer on behalf of eight or more active conference members; chief executive officers' signatures are required in the same manner as in Division II.

Other procedures for submitting proposals for the 1998 Convention in Atlanta were detailed in a May 5 memorandum to chief executive officers of Divisions II and III institutions. The memorandum was accompanied by copies of the official amendment-submission form for institutions and conferences.

Procedures also were described in Legislative Assistance Column No. 22 in the June 2 issue of The NCAA News.

Among the procedures:

  • Proposals can be submitted either by mail or facsimile, and should be submitted to the attention of the NCAA legislative services staff. Facsimiles should be submitted using the legislative services fax number (913/339-0032).

  • The submission should include a clear and concise statement of intent, stating what the proposal is designed to accomplish. The intent statement should not be used to argue the proposal's merits.

  • A submission should identify the specific legislation to be amended, as it appears in the 1997-98 NCAA Division II Manual or Division III Manual. It also must list a primary contact for information about the proposal (the contact does not have to be from among the proposal's sponsors).

  • Each proposal must be accompanied by a statement of rationale, not to exceed 200 words in length.

    Proposed legislation for the 1998 Convention cannot become effective before August 1, 1998, unless eligible voters present at the Convention vote otherwise. A voting delegate may propose an immediate or alternative effective date for a proposal; however, that date may be adopted only with the approval of two-thirds of all delegates present and eligible to vote on such a proposal.

    Evaluation of proposals

    Divisions II and III retain the system under which all membership proposals will be evaluated by an appropriate Association-wide or Division II or III committee. The reviewing committee will be designated by the divisions' respective Presidents Councils. This evaluation must occur before a proposal can be included on the agenda for the 1998 Convention.

    The designated committee is obligated to report to sponsors the results of its review by October 7. An effort will be made by committees to complete the review process in time for sponsors to make any alterations to the proposals before the September 15 deadline for modification by sponsors.

    A committee may indicate support for or opposition to a proposal or suggest an alternative proposal as a result of its review. A committee position will not prevent a vote by the membership on a proposal, as long as submission requirements and deadlines are met.

    Properly submitted proposals, after appropriate editing by the NCAA Legislative Review Committee and the legislative services staff, will appear in the Initial Publication of Proposed Legislation, which will be mailed not later than August 15.

    Future deadlines for preparation of legislation for the 1998 Convention are:

  • September 1: Convention proposals due from the Division II and Division III Presidents Councils.

  • September 15: Sponsors' amendment deadline (amendments may be more or less restrictive than the original proposal).

  • November 1: Nonsponsors' amendment deadline (amendments-to-amendments may not increase the modification called for by the original proposal). The date also is the deadline for submission of resolutions by member institutions.

    Questions regarding any aspect of legislative procedures should be directed to Stephen A. Mallonee, director of legislative services, or David W. Schnase, legislative coordinator, at the national office.