Bill would require sports agents to register with secretary of state

Thursday, March 1, 2001 | 9:49 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- A bill designed to protect student athletes from unscrupulous agents was introduced Wednesday in the Assembly.

Assembly Bill 253 would enact the Uniform Athletes' Agents Act, a measure requiring the registration of agents with the secretary of state and prohibiting certain conduct by agents.

Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, sponsored the legislation after attending the National Conference of State Legislators conference and learning of an effort to adopt the measure nationwide.

"It is really to bring a uniform act together for all 50 states," Cegavske said.

The Board of Regents approved a copy of Cegavske's bill draft prior to her introduction of the bill Wednesday.

In addition to license requirements for agents, the bill also requires any contract between the agent and student athlete to include a warning "in close proximity to the signature of the student athlete in boldface capital letters."

That warning would advise the student: "If you sign this contract you will lose your eligibility to compete as a student athlete in your sport."

The warning advises that the agent and athlete must both notify the student's athletic director within 72 hours of signing the contract. And the warning also states: "You may cancel this contract within 14 days after signing it. Cancellation of this contract may not reinstate your eligibility."

The bill was referred to the Education Committee.