HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1053

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Commerce & Labor

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

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

Sponsors:  Representatives Heavey and Johanson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Commerce & Labor, January 26, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Heavey, Chair; G. Cole, Vice Chair; Lisk, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Franklin; Horn; King; Springer; and Veloria.

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 to 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:  The definition of "athlete agent" is changed to include any individual required to be registered under the athlete agent statute, making unregistered athlete agents subject to the same criminal penalties as registered athlete agents.  Redundant language throughout the statute referring to "employment with a professional sport team or as a professional athlete" is stricken and replaced with "employment as a professional athlete."

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 25, 1993.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:   None.