The NCAA News - News and Features

August 18, 1997

State legislation relating to college athletics

This report summarizes legislation currently pending before state legislatures that could affect, or is otherwise of interest to, the intercollegiate athletics programs and student-athletes of NCAA member institutions. Set forth below is a list of four bills from three states. The report includes one bill that has been recently introduced and three pending bills on which action has been taken since the publication of the July 21, 1997, issue of The NCAA News.

The State Legislation Report is based largely on data provided by the Information for Public Affairs on-line state legislation system as of August 4, 1997. The bills selected for inclusion in this report were drawn from a larger pool of measures that concern sports and, therefore, do not necessarily represent all of the bills that would be of interest to individual member institutions. Bills pending before the governing bodies of the District of Columbia and U.S. territories are not available on an on-line basis and are not included in this report.

The NCAA has not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the data provided by Information for Public Affairs and is providing this summary as a service to its members. For further information regarding a particular bill, members should contact the state legislature concerned.

The bills set forth in this report address the following subjects:

Subject -- Number of Bills

Athletic trainers -- 1

Gender equity -- 1

Golf course membership -- 1

Tickets -- 1

Since the last report, the legislatures in two states (Nevada and Oregon) have adjourned for the year. A total of 38 state legislatures have concluded their 1997 legislative session. Eleven states remain in regular session. Kentucky did not conduct a regular session in 1997.

Massachusetts S. 301 (Author: Pines)

Gender equity. Requires each public school district to furnish annually to the department of education and make available to the public, in a timely fashion, information on athletics program participation rates and financial support data for each men's team, women's team and coeducational team.

Status: 1/1/97 introduced. 7/10/97 passed by Joint Committee on Education, Art and Humanities with H. 4600.

New York A. 7084 (Author: McEneny)

Golf course membership. Prohibits any golf course from restricting the use of its facilities on the basis of gender during the period of time when the premises are open to use. Allows access to be restricted based upon membership categories which are not related to gender. Defines "golf course" as any person, firm, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other business enterprise offering facilities actively devoted to golf.

Status: 5/19/97 introduced. 7/22/97 passed Assembly. 7/23/97 to Senate Committee on Rules.

*New York S. 5886 (Author: Skelos)

Tickets. Regulates the sale and resale of tickets. Sets requirements for operators of places of entertainment (including arenas and stadiums) related to printed materials on tickets. Enhances consumer protection measures to existing regulatory structure. Establishes licensing procedures and sets annual fees for those who resell tickets. Increases penalties for violations of provisions relating to resale of tickets.

Status: 7/8/97 introduced. To Senate Committee on Rules.

North Carolina S. 660 (Author: Hoyle)

Athletic trainers. Provides for the licensure of athletic trainers. Creates the North Carolina Board of Athletic Trainer Examiners to administer licensing process. Defines athletic trainer as a person who, under written protocol with a physician, carries out a practice of care, prevention, and rehabilitation of injuries incurred by athletes, and in so doing uses medical modalities. Excludes student trainers who are under the supervision of a physician or licensed athletic trainer from the provisions of the act.

Status: 4/2/97 introduced. 5/22/97 passed as amended by Senate. 7/24/97 passed as amended by House. 7/29/97 Senate failed to concur with House amendments.