This report summarizes legislation currently pending before state legislatures that could affect or is of interest to staff members of intercollegiate athletics programs and student-athletes. Set forth below is a list of three bills from three states. The bills appearing in the report are pending bills where legislative action has occurred since the publication of the July 3, 2000, NCAA News.

The State Legislation Report is based largely on data provided by the Information for Public Affairs online state legislation system as of August 31, 2000. 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

Athletics program discontinuation 1

Athletic trainers. 2

One bill has become law since the last report. In Rhode Island, legislation was enacted that amends the provisions related to the clinical experience required for an athletic trainer license.

California S 338 (Author: Wright C)

Athletics program discontinuation. Requires every campus of the University of California, the California State University, or the California Community Colleges that maintains an intercollegiate athletics to provide adequate notice of any proposed discontinuation of any intercollegiate athletics team. Provides for notice to all scholarship student athletes at a time that permits them to find and transfer to another institution with a comparable athletics program. Requires that notice of the discontinuation be published in a newspaper of general circulation serving the community in which the college or university is located. Provides for notice to those persons who have been offered admission that is to commence during the academic year in which the proposed discontinuation is to occur. Urges that the notices include a written account of the basis of, or the purpose to be served by, the proposed discontinuation.

Status: 2/9/99 introduced. 5/6/99 passed as amended by Senate. 8/21/2000 passed as amended by Assembly. 8/25/2000 Senate concurred in Assembly amendments.

New Jersey A 972 (Author: Stuhltrager)

Athletic trainers. Amends existing law relating to athletic trainers. Requires athletic trainers to be licensed according to the bill's provisions. Allows athletic trainers who become licensed under the bill's provisions to use the title "licensed athletic trainer" or "AT." Requires that all applicants for licensure successfully complete an examination administered by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification. Permits a person currently registered as an athletic trainer to become licensed by submitting a timely renewal application to the board before the expiration of the applicant's biennial registration.

Status: 1/11/2000 introduced. 6/29/2000 passed as amended by Assembly. Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce.

Rhode Island S 2530 (Author: Bates)

Athletic trainers. Amends the provisions regarding the clinical experience required for an athletic trainer license. Requires clinical experience in accordance with national standards and as approved by the director.

Status: 2/9/2000 introduced. 3/14/200 passed Senate. 6/30/2000 passed House. 7/13/2000 signed by governor.