HCS SCS SB 739 -- ATHLETE AGENTS AND PROFESSIONAL BOARD
NOMINATIONS

SPONSOR:  Wiggins (Monaco)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 13 to 0.

This substitute requires all athlete agents operating in this
state to register with and be certified by the Division of
Professional Registration.  Fees for registration and renewal
will be set by the division and deposited in the Athlete Agent
Fund, which is created by the substitute.  Registration and
certification are valid for a two-year period and may be renewed
indefinitely.  The division director may refuse to issue a
certificate or may suspend or revoke a certificate because of the
following circumstances:

(1)  The applicant has been convicted of a crime of moral
turpitude;

(2)  The applicant made false statements on the application;

(3)  The applicant has had a similar license suspended or revoked
in another state; or

(4)  The applicant has caused a student-athlete to be suspended
from or to be ineligible for any interscholastic or
intercollegiate athletic event.

The substitute requires that all agent-athlete contracts must be
written and must contain certain information, including the basis
for the agent's fee and a notice warning the student-athlete
about possible loss of eligibility.

The substitute further removes from the Director of the
Department of Economic Development and gives to the Director of
the Division of Professional Registration the authority to submit
nominees to the Governor for the purpose of appointing members of
the boards and commissions assigned to the division.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of
$3,000 in FY 2003, $1,032 to Unknown in FY 2004, and $1,032 to
Unknown in FY 2005.  Unknown cost would not exceed $100,000
annually.  Estimated Net Income to State Athlete Agent Fund of
Unknown in FY 2003, FY 2004, and FY 2005.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the substitute is needed to
protect young athletes from being taken advantage of.  The
substitute also transfers agents from the Secretary of State to
the Division of Professional Registration, where they can be
properly regulated.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Wiggins; and Secretary of
State's Office.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Bob Dominique, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:04 am