The deadline is approaching for Divisions II and III institutions and conferences to submit legislative proposals for the Association's 2001 Convention.

The Divisions II and III deadline for membership-sponsored proposals is the same as in previous years. The deadline is 5 p.m. Central time, July 15 (July 15 falls on a Saturday this year).

In Division II, members are reminded of the amendment procedures set forth in NCAA Constitution 5.3 of the 1999-00 NCAA Division II Manual. In particular, the minimum number of active member institutions required to sponsor an amendment not sponsored by the NCAA Division II Presidents Council is 15.

A proposal must be signed by the chief executive officer of a sponsoring institution or by the CEO's designee. CEOs must notify the national office in writing of individuals designated to sign a proposal. In the alternative, at least two chief elected or executive officers of a voting member conference (such as a conference commissioner) can submit legislation on behalf of 15 or more active conference members, as long as those sponsoring institutions are listed and the proposal is signed by the chair of the conference's official presidential administrative group (or by at least two CEOs of conference schools if no such group exists).

An amendment is not considered properly sponsored if it is sponsored by one conference, even if that conference has more than 15 active members.

In Division III, members are reminded of the amendment procedures set forth in Constitution 5.3 of the 1999-00 NCAA Division III Manual. The minimum number of active member institutions required to sponsor an amendment not sponsored by the NCAA Division III Presidents Council is eight.

A proposal must be signed by the chief executive officer of a sponsoring institution or by the CEO's designee. CEOs must notify the national office in writing of individuals designated to sign a proposal. Legislation also can be submitted by a chief conference officer on behalf of eight or more active conference members. Chief executive officers' signatures are required in the same manner as in Division II.

Other procedures for submitting proposals for the 2001 Convention in Orlando, Florida, were detailed in a May 12 memorandum to chief executive officers of Divisions II and III institutions. The memorandum was accompanied by copies of the official amendment-submission forms for institutions and conferences.

Among the procedures:

* Proposals may be submitted either by mail or facsimile and should be submitted to the attention of David W. Schnase, director of membership services, at the NCAA national office (facsimile 317/ 917-6622).

* The submission should include a clear and concise statement of intent, stating what the proposal is designed to accomplish. The intent statement should not be used to argue the proposal's merits.

* A submission should identify the specific legislation to be amended, as it appears in the 1999-00 NCAA Division II Manual or Division III Manual. It also must specify the desired effective date and list a primary contact for information about the proposal (the contact does not have to be from among the proposal's sponsors).

* Each proposal must be accompanied by a statement of rationale, not to exceed 200 words in length.

Proposed legislation for the 2001 Convention cannot become effective before August 1, 2001, unless eligible voters present at the Convention vote otherwise. In Division I, an immediate or alternative effective date may be adopted only with the approval of two-thirds of all delegates present and eligible to vote on such a proposal. In Division III, an immediate or alternative effective date may be adopted without a two-thirds vote; however, the rationale statement of such a proposal must include the reasoning behind the proposed alternate effective date.

All membership-sponsored proposals will be evaluated by an appropriate Association-wide or Division II or III committee before they are included on the agenda for the 2001 Convention. The reviewing committee will be designated by the divisions' respective Presidents Councils.

The designated committee is obligated to report to sponsors the results of its review of a proposal by October 7. An effort will be made by committees to complete the review process in time for sponsors to make any alterations to proposals before the September 15 deadline for modifications by sponsors.

A committee may indicate support for or opposition to a proposal or suggest an alternative proposal as a result of its review. A committee position will not prevent a vote by the membership on a proposal, as long as submission requirements and deadlines are met.

Properly submitted proposals, after appropriate editing by the Legislative Review Subcommittee of the Division II Legislation Committee, the Division III Interpretations and Legislation Committee and the membership services staff, will appear in the Initial Publication of Proposed Legislation, which will be mailed not later than August 15.

The Second Publication of Proposed Legislation (which includes amendments submitted by the Presidents Councils and those modified by sponsors) will be mailed not later than September 23, and the Official Notice will be mailed not later than November 15.

Future deadlines for preparation of legislation for the 2001 Convention are:

* September 1: Convention proposals due from the Division II and Division III Presidents Councils.

* September 15: Sponsors' amendment deadline (amendments may be more or less restrictive than the original proposal).

* November 1: Nonsponsors' amendment deadline (amendments-to-amendments may not increase the modification called for by the original proposal). The date also is the deadline for submission of resolutions by member institutions.

Questions regarding any aspect of legislative procedures should be directed to Schnase at the national office.