The 2007 Convention will be the second time Division I uses a system of legislation review designed to make the process more efficient. Management Council members will give initial consideration to the legislative proposals in the cycle, but they also will have the opportunity to approve proposals with a two-thirds majority and send them to the Board of Directors for adoption.

The Council’s legislative review subcommittee has reviewed all the proposals in the Division I Official Notice and is recommending that 37 be approved and forwarded to the Board and an additional 34 be defeated.

Among proposals generating discussion are those regulating communications with recruits through means other than the telephone or written correspondence. An Ivy Group proposal would eliminate the use of electronic transmissions — including text messaging and the use of social networking Web sites — with the exception of e-mail and facsimile. A proposal on the same topic forwarded by the Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet would define and regulate the use of computer-mediated communication, including text messaging.

The Council also will consider proposals concerning the receipt of expenses for tryouts with professional teams after enrollment and that would require men’s basketball student-athletes who declare for the professional draft to withdraw their name within 30 days after the Division I championship. Another draft proposal would allow student-athletes in sports other than basketball and football to "test the waters" by entering a professional draft once without jeopardizing eligibility if they declare their intention to resume participation in intercollegiate athletics.

Another proposal allows an institution to provide a matching grant to recipients of NCAA degree-completion awards. The committee that governs the awards has voted to change the format to provide grants for tuition and fees and a book allowance only. Room and board will no longer be included. The legislation would allow schools to match the amount of the NCAA award to help former student-athletes pay room and board.

Other proposals on the docket include legislation governing the costs of training-table and championship-segment meals for nonscholarship student-athletes, requiring medical examinations for all student-athletes before participation, requiring prospective student-athletes to register with the Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse before an official visit, creating campus athletics boards with a specific membership composition, establishing a missed class time/final exam period restriction in the nontraditional season in specific sports, and clarifying prohibited sports-wagering activities and the individuals to whom the prohibition applies.