The NCAA News - News and Features

May 18, 1998

State legislation relating to college athletics

This report summarizes legislation currently pending before state legislatures that could affect or is of interest to staff of intercollegiate athletics programs and student-athletes. Set forth below is a list of nine bills from seven states. The report includes two bills that have been introduced and seven pending bills where legislative action has occurred since the publication of the May 4, 1998, 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 online state legislation system as of May 4, 1998. 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 online 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 below address the following subjects:

Subject -- Number of Bills

Athletics facilities -- 3

Athletic trainers -- 2

Liability -- 1 --

Sports officials -- 1

Tickets -- 2

Two bills have been enacted since the last report. In Louisiana, the governor signed into law legislation that changes the name of Grambling State University's "Robinson Stadium" to "Eddie G. Robinson Stadium."

In Vermont, legislation was adopted that provides for the certification and regulation of athletic trainers.

Since the last report, five state legislatures (Florida, Iowa, Tennessee, Virginia and Vermont) have adjourned for the year. Twenty-two legislatures remain in session. Six states will not conduct a 1998 legislative session.

Alaska H. 484 (Author: Committee on Labor and Commerce)

Sports officials. Adds amateur sports officials to the list of those exempt from coverage under the state unemployment tax, pursuant to the Alaska Employment Security Act. States that the legislation will become null and void unless the U.S. Congress amends the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (26 U.S.C. 3300-3311) on or before December 31, 1999.

Status:4/9/98 introduced. 4/24/98 passed House. 4/30/98 passed Senate.

Arizona S. 1399 (Author: Patterson)

Liability/baseball. Provides limited liability for baseball teams and baseball facility owners, including colleges and universities. Creates liability for injuries to spectators who are struck by baseballs, baseball bats or other equipment during games only when the facility owner does not provide protective seating or intentionally injures a spectator.

Status: 2/2/98 introduced. 3/24/98 passed as amended by Senate. 5/4/98 passed as amended by House. To Senate for concurrence.

Delaware H. 567 (Author: Ulbrich)

Athletic trainers. Rewrites the qualifications for licensure and reciprocity governing the practice of physical therapy and athletic training. Requires that applicants for licensure as athletic trainers graduate from an accredited athletic training program. Enables the Board to license those individuals who did not graduate from an accredited program but who have a college degree, have successfully completed the internship process through the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification (NATA BOC), and have been approved to take the national examination by NATA BOC before July 1, 2004.

Status: 4/8/98 introduced. 4/28/98 reported without recommendation by the House Committee on Government and Accountability.

Florida S. 612 (Author: Crist)

Tax on tickets. Exempts from taxation admissions to any semifinal game or championship game of a national collegiate tournament.

Status: 3/3/98 introduced. 4/27/98 reported favorably with amendment by Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

Louisiana H. 44a (Author: Wilkerson)

Athletics facilities. Changes the name of Grambling State University's "Robinson Stadium" to "Eddie G. Robinson Stadium."

Status: 3/23/98 introduced. 3/30/98 passed House. 4/8/98 passed Senate. 4/24/98 signed by governor.

*Louisiana H. 209 (Author: Kennard)

Tickets. Amends existing law to prohibit out-of-state vendors from selling tickets, via telephone, fax, mail order, or any other means, for an amount in excess of the price printed on the ticket.

Status: 4/27/98 introduced.

*Louisiana S. 39 (Author: Dardenne)

Athletics facilities. Permits certain private, nonprofit corporations that fund the expansion of Louisiana State University's football stadium or any other public college or university athletics facility to purchase tickets located in the expanded area of the facility.

Status: 3/23/98 introduced. 4/6/98 passed Senate. 4/17/98 passed House. 4/20/98 to governor.

Michigan S. 995 (Author: Bouchard)

Athletics facilities. Permits entertainment forums (including facilities that are used for athletics events) to use reasonable force to detain, remove or eject a person from the entertainment forum when there is reasonable grounds to believe that such person has violated the terms of his or her license for admission.

Status: 3/4/98 introduced. 4/29/98 passed Senate.

Vermont H. 359 (Author: Vinton)

Athletic trainers. Provides for the certification of athletic trainers. Imposes misdemeanor criminal penalties and/or a fine of not more than $1,000 for those who refer to themselves as "certified athletic trainer" but are not certified in accordance with the act. Authorizes the secretary of state to appoint two athletic trainers for three-year terms to serve as advisors in matters relating to athletic training. Defines unprofessional conduct standards and states that any such action will result in a denial or revocation of certification.

Status: 2/19/97 introduced. 3/31/98 passed as amended by House. 4/10/98 passed Senate. 4/21/98 signed by governor.