National Collegiate Athletic Association |
The NCAA News - News and FeaturesAugust 3, 1998
State legislation relating to student-athletesThis 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 three bills from two states. The report includes two bills that have been introduced and one pending bill where legislative action has occurred since the publication of the July 6, 1998, issue of The NCAA News. 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 July 22, 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 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 below address the following subjects: Subject -- Number of Bills Athlete agents -- 2 Tickets -- 1 Since the last report, one state legislature (Delaware) has adjourned for the year. Ten legislatures remain in session. Six states did not conduct a 1998 legislative session.
Athlete agents. Regulates athlete agent contracts. Provides for the furnishing of an athlete agent disclosure statement before the signing of an agent contract. Establishes minimum agent contract provisions. Requires an athlete agent to provide an athlete with a copy of the professional sports services contract and a statement outlining the agent's compensation within three days after executing a professional sports services contract. Imposes criminal misdemeanor penalties, including imprisonment up to 90 days and/or a fine not exceeding $50,000, on athlete agents who intentionally make false statements or material omissions designed to deceive or persuade an athlete to sign an agent contract. Permits the athlete to void the agent contract up to two years after the date of execution, in cases where the agent violates the act. Allows the court, upon proof of a willful violation of the act by the athlete agent, to award the athlete treble damages. Status: 6/30/98 introduced. To House Committee on Regulatory Affairs.
Tickets. Repeals existing law applying to ticket speculators. Permits only registered ticket brokers to sell tickets in excess of the box-office ticket price. Sets minimum operational requirements for registered ticket brokers. Establishes provisions regulating ticket broker advertisements. Allows only non-ticket brokers to sell tickets at the location of a sporting event provided the sale does not exceed the printed box office ticket price. Imposes criminal misdemeanor penalties and a fine of not more than $1,000 on any person violating the act. Status: 2/3/98 introduced. 6/23/98 passed as amended by House. To Senate. Rhode Island S. 2642 (Author: Coderre) Athlete agents. Authorizes the department of business regulation to promulgate rules and regulations governing the occupation of athlete agents. Status: 2/10/98 introduced. 6/26/98 passed as amended by Senate. To House. |