National Collegiate Athletic Association

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The NCAA News -- September 13, 1999

State legislation relating to intercollegiate 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 four bills from three states. The report includes two bills that have been recently introduced and two pending bills where legislative action has occurred since the publication of the August 16, 1999, 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 August 27, 1999. 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

    Sports officials. 3

    Tickets. 1

    One bill has become law since the last report. In Ohio, legislation was adopted that permits a township to regulate the resale of tickets to sporting events and other public amusements.

    Ten state legislatures remain in regular session. Thirty-nine states have concluded their regular sessions and have adjourned. One state legislature (Kentucky) will not conduct a legislative session in 1999.

    Ohio S 52 (Author: Carnes)

    Tickets. Permits a township to regulate, by license or otherwise, the resale of tickets to theatrical, sporting or other public amusement events. Allows a township to establish a fine not to exceed $100 for violations of ticket resale regulations.

    Status: 2/4/99 introduced. 4/28/99 passed Senate. 6/30/99 passed as amended by House. 6/30/99 Senate concurred in House amendments. 8/3/99 signed by governor.

    Illinois H 448 (Author: Johnson T)

    Sports officials. Amends the Uniform Code of Corrections by ordering the court to impose a minimum fine of $1,000 for a first offense and $2,000 for a second or subsequent offense in cases where a battery against a sports official occurs within an athletics facility or within the immediate vicinity of the athletics contest.

    Status: 2/2/99 introduced. 3/9/99 passed House. 5/7/99 passed as amended by Senate. 5/17/99 House concurred in Senate amendment. 8/14/99 vetoed by governor.

    Delaware H 416 a (Author: Reynolds)

    Sports officials. Requires the Office of the Attorney General to assign a prosecutor, under certain circumstances, to a case in which a person has allegedly committed the crime of threatening to kill or seriously injure a sports official.

    Status: 8/3/99 introduced. Referred to House Committee on Judiciary.

    Delaware H 417 a (Author: Reynolds)

    Sports officials. Authorizes the deputy attorney general to choose the court where the prosecution will commence in a case involving the assault of sports official where the victim is required to testify in court.

    Status: 8/3/99 introduced. Referred to House Committee on Judiciary.