HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 2270

                              As Passed House

                             February 11, 1992

Title:  An act relating to the registration of athlete agents.

Brief Description:  Making technical changes to the statute governing athlete agents.

Sponsor(s):  Representative Heavey.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, January 17, 1992, DP;

Passed House, February 11, 1992, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; G. Cole, Vice Chair; Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member; Lisk, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Franklin; Jones; R. King; O'Brien; Prentice; and Vance.

Staff:  Jim Kelley (786-7166).

Background:  In 1991, the Legislature enacted a law requiring the registration of athlete agents with the Department of Licensing.  This act made it a criminal offense for an athlete agent to: induce a student athlete to enter into an agent contract or professional sport services contract; enter into an agreement whereby the athlete agent offers anything of value to an employee of a school in return for the referral of a student athlete; or offer money or any valuable consideration to a student athlete to induce the student athlete to enter into a professional sports services contract.  "Athlete agent" is defined as an individual registered under this chapter.

"Professional athlete" is defined in the act as a person who is under contract to a professional sports team and is no longer enrolled in an institution of higher education as an undergraduate student.  References in the act to employment "with a professional sport team or as a professional athlete," therefore, are redundant.

Summary of Bill:  Technical changes are made to the athlete agent registration statute.

"Athlete agent" is defined as an individual required to be registered under this chapter.

Redundant references to employment "with a professional sport team or as a professional athlete," are stricken.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The Department of Licensing has no objection to the bill.  The bill makes technical clarifications.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Marsha Tadano-Long, Department of Licensing (Neutral).