NCAA GOVERNMENT RELATIONS REPORT

 

Executive Summary of Legislative Issues

[See Attachment A for detail of each item.]

 

 

1.     State and federal athlete agent legislation.

 

a.     State activity:  To date, sixteen jurisdictions have passed the Uniform Athlete Agent Act.  We continue to work closely with the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws on our state-by-state strategy.

 

b.     Federal Activity:  Rep. Bart Gordon (D – TN) introduced the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act.  The bill provides for civil penalties against unscrupulous agents and encourages the passage of the state model law.  The bill has not yet been scheduled for a subcommittee vote.

 

 

2.     Title IX.  On June 27, Secretary of Education Paige announced the creation of a 15 member commission entitled “Commission on Opportunities in Athletics.”  The Commission will recommend steps that might be taken to improve the effectiveness of Title IX.

 

The National Wrestling Coaches Association, along with others, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Department of Education.  The Department of Education filed a motion to dismiss and the Wrestling Coaches Association filed a response and a cross-motion for summary judgment.  A final decision has not yet been released.  We will continue to closely monitor all federal activities relating to Title IX.

 

 

3.      Internet gambling.  We continue to support two bills that would help deter the spread of Internet gambling.  Several NCAA member institutions have sent letters of support to become actively involved on the issue.   On June 18, the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 3215, the comprehensive prohibition of gambling on the Internet; however, the legislation included an amendment that eliminated various exemptions in the bill.  The horse racing industry, among others, are expected to now oppose the bill.

 

In another development, Citibank announced a policy to block all online gambling activities transacted with its credit cards.  The actions of Citibank and other financial services companies should help to curb the problem of Internet gambling.

 

 

4.     Terrorism insurance.  Both the U. S. Senate and House have now passed legislation to provide a “federal backstop” for insurance companies.  The bills will need to go to conference for further consideration.

 

 

5.     Other activities.  We will continue to work to enhance our relationships with the higher education associations and their university lobbyists.  In addition, we will continue to develop coalitions with the professional leagues’ governmental relations representatives on issues of common interest.  We will also focus our efforts on enhancing our relationship with the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Institute.

 

 

6.     Congressional and state legislative schedules.

 

a.     Congressional schedule.  The second session of the 107th Congress convened on January 23.  The next scheduled break is summer recess on July 29 for five weeks.  The target adjournment date is October 4.

 

b.     State legislative schedules.  Forty-four state legislatures meet in 2002, and there are twelve states that have not yet adjourned.