The NCAA News - News and Features

September 15, 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 six bills from five states. The report includes four bills that have been recently introduced and two pending bills on which action has been taken since the publication of the August 18, 1997, issue of The NCAA News. All newly introduced bills are marked with an asterisk (*).

The State Legislation Report is based largely on data provided by the Information for Public Affairs on-line state legislation system as of September 2, 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

Alcoholic beverages -- 1

Athletic trainers -- 3

Student residency requirements -- 1

Tickets -- 1

One bill has become law since the last report. In North Carolina, legislation was passed that provides for the regulation and licensing of athletic trainers.

Since the last report, one state legislature (North Carolina) has 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.

*Alabama S. 36a (Author: Freeman)

Alcoholic beverages. Provides for a separate alcoholic beverage license for golf courses. Permits the sale of alcoholic beverages at both private and public 18-hole or larger golf courses. Sets annual license fee.

Status: 8/18/97 introduced. 8/20/97 passed Senate. To House Committee on Ways and Means.

California A. 1317 (Author: Ducheny)

Student resident requirements. Entitles student-athletes in training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista to resident classification for the purposes of ascertaining the amount of fees to be paid by students at public postsecondary educational institutions. States that the provision does not apply to the University of California unless the regents, by resolution, deem it applicable.

Status: 2/28/97 introduced. 5/29/97 passed as amended by Assembly. 8/7/97 passed as amended by Senate. 8/28/97 Assembly concurred with Senate amendments.

*New York A. 8668 (Author: Committee on Rules)

Tickets. Regulates the sale and resale of tickets to places of entertainment, including athletics events. Sets minimum requirements related to the information printed on tickets. Requires the licensure of ticket resellers and sets license fees and bond limits. Provides for the posting of consumer-oriented price information at ticket resale locations. Establishes criminal penalties and fines for violators of the act.

Status: 8/3/97 introduced. To Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development.

North Carolina H. 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. 8/4/97 conference committee report adopted by House and Senate. 8/13/97 signed by governor.

*Wisconsin A. 466/S. 276 (Authors: Foti/Burke)

Athletic trainers. Allows for an individual to engage in athletic training without being licensed as an athletic trainer. Restricts, however, the use of the titles "athletic trainer," "licensed athletic trainer," "certified athletic trainer" and "registered athletic trainer" to only those individuals who are licensed by the affiliated credentialing board. Provides for the reciprocal licensure of an individual who is licensed by another jurisdiction in the United States with substantially equivalent licensing requirements. Establishes requirements regulating the practice of licensed athletic trainers and sets bond and minimum liability insurance limits. Subjects violators of the act to a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than nine months or both.

Status: A. 466: 8/7/97 introduced. To Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs. S. 276: 8/21/97 introduced. To Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations.