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 report includes one bill that has been recently introduced and two pending bills where legislative action has occurred since the publication of the September 11, 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 October 26, 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:

Athletics program discontinuation 1

Athlete agents. 1

Scheduling of athletics events 1

One bill in California requiring the adequate notification of any proposal to discontinue an intercollegiate athletics team was vetoed by the governor.

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 program 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. 9/6/2000 vetoed by governor.

Ohio H 107 (Author: Tiberi)

Athlete agents. Amends existing law to provide for the registration and further regulation of athlete agents. Creates additional requirements and duties for members of the Ohio Athletic Commission as it relates to athlete agents. Authorizes the commission to administer the provisions governing athlete agents. Provides the commission with the authority to establish continuing-education requirements focusing on ethical conduct for athlete agents. Revises definitions in athlete-agent chapter of the state code. Provides specific guidelines regulating the form and content of the agent contract. Requires athlete agents and athlete to provide written notice to the educational institution after an agent contract is signed. Establishes biennial athlete-agent registration. Requires agents to secure a surety bond, certificate of deposit, or professional malpractice insurance in the amount of $15,000. Sets guidelines related to fees charged by athlete agents. Lists prohibited acts, including limitations on athlete-agent contact with athletes. Provides for a person or an institution of higher education to bring a civil action against an athlete agent who knowingly violates the act.

Status: 1/28/99 introduced. 9/20/00 passed as amended by House. Referred to Senate Committee on Reference.

*Pennsylvania H. 2744 (Author: Robinson)

Scheduling of athletics events. Prohibits the state treasurer from paying any appropriated funds to Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh unless both institutions annually certify that both institutions are scheduled to play each other in football (alternating games on each campus).

Status: 9/25/00 introduced. 9/26/00 referred to House Committee on Education.