The NCAA Division II Championships Committee will ask the Division II Management Council for $1 million for championships bracket increases in the 2004-05 academic year.

In addition to expanding the Division II Football Championship from 16 to 24 teams, the funding would be used to expand brackets in other sports in keeping with a strategic plan that the committee adopted in June.

Although the committee did not announce in which other sports bracket sizes would increase, it did reaffirm its commitment to maintaining equal male/ female participation in Division II championships.

The committee also agreed to ask for an additional $665,000 in funding for bracket expansions in 2005-06.

In another budget matter, the committee agreed to seek $135,000 in 2005-06 to enhance officiating at Division II championships. The additional money would be used to acquire more officials and, in some cases, to pay higher fees.

If approved, the increases for 2005-06 would follow an across-the-board increase for officials' per diem that has been requested for 2004-05. The committee has asked that the per diem for officials in all sports be increased from $30 to $45.

In addition, the committee recommended that an ad hoc group be appointed to review 2004 Convention Proposal Nos. 2-52 and 2-53.

Proposal No. 2-52, sponsored by the North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, would modify factors that sports committees can consider in selecting teams for championships. In particular, it would require the governing sports committees to recognize official action taken by the NCAA, conferences or member institutions in cases involving ineligible student-athletes.

Proposal No. 2-53, sponsored by the Peach Belt and Sunshine State Conferences, would require that contests or dates of competition that are forfeited be counted as losses for the offending team and as wins for the opponent.

The Championships Committee opposed both proposals but agreed that each merits further examination. It is primarily concerned that the proposals, as currently written, could have unintended consequences. The committee recommended that the study group be made up of a wide range of administrators including representatives from the Championships Committee, the Legislation Committee, the Committee on Infractions, the conferences that sponsored the legislation, and the Presidents and Management Councils.

In actions relating to playing rules, the committee voted to move the three-point line for men's and women's basketball back to 20 feet, 6 1/4 inches, but to deny a recommendation from the Men's and Women's Basketball Rules Committees to establish a trapezoid-shaped foul lane. The Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet and the Division III Championships Committee have taken similar actions.

The committee also voted to establish a Women's Lacrosse Committee Rules Committee. The Division I cabinet also approved establishment of the committee; action is pending in Division III.