Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1385 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/10/2021

                    87R9361 ADM-D
 By: Creighton S.B. No. 1385


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the compensation and professional representation of
 student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletic
 programs at certain institutions of higher education.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
 amended by adding Section 51.9246 to read as follows:
 Sec. 51.9246.  COMPENSATION AND PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATION
 OF STUDENT ATHLETES PARTICIPATING IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC
 PROGRAMS. (a) In this section:
 (1)  "Athlete agent" has the meaning assigned by
 Section 2051.001, Occupations Code.
 (2)  "General academic teaching institution" and
 "private or independent institution of higher education" have the
 meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
 (b)  This section applies only to:
 (1)  a general academic teaching institution; or
 (2)  a private or independent institution of higher
 education.
 (c)  An institution to which this section applies may not:
 (1)  adopt or enforce a policy, requirement, standard,
 or limitation that prohibits or otherwise prevents a student
 athlete participating in an intercollegiate athletic program at the
 institution from:
 (A)  earning compensation for the use of the
 student athlete's name, image, or likeness when the student athlete
 is not engaged in official team activities; or
 (B)  obtaining professional representation,
 including representation by an athlete agent or attorney, for
 contracts or other legal matters relating to the use of the student
 athlete's name, image, or likeness; or
 (2)  provide a prospective student athlete of an
 intercollegiate athletic program at the institution with
 compensation in relation to the prospective student athlete's name,
 image, or likeness.
 (d)  A scholarship, grant, or similar financial assistance
 awarded to a student athlete by an institution to which this section
 applies that covers the student athlete's cost of attendance at the
 institution is not compensation for purposes of this section.
 (e)  A student athlete participating in an intercollegiate
 athletic program at an institution to which this section applies
 may not be disqualified from eligibility for a scholarship, grant,
 or similar financial assistance awarded by the institution because
 the student athlete:
 (1)  earns compensation from the use of the student
 athlete's name, image, or likeness when the student athlete is not
 engaged in official team activities; or
 (2)  obtains professional representation, including
 representation by an athlete agent or attorney, for contracts or
 other legal matters relating to use of the student athlete's name,
 image, or likeness.
 (f)  An institution to which this section applies:
 (1)  may not prescribe a team contract for an
 intercollegiate athletic program that prohibits or otherwise
 prevents a student athlete from using the student athlete's name,
 image, or likeness for a commercial purpose when the student
 athlete is not engaged in official team activities; and
 (2)  may adopt a policy requiring a team contract for an
 intercollegiate athletic program to include a provision that
 requires a student athlete to deposit all money paid as
 compensation for the use of the student athlete's name, image, or
 likeness into a trust fund to be held for the student athlete until
 the student athlete is no longer eligible to participate in the
 program.
 (g)  A student athlete participating in an intercollegiate
 athletic program at an institution to which this section applies:
 (1)  shall promptly disclose to the institution, in the
 manner prescribed by the institution, any contract entered into by
 the student athlete for use of the student athlete's name, image, or
 likeness;
 (2)  may not enter into a contract for the use of the
 student athlete's name, image, or likeness if:
 (A)  any provision of the contract conflicts with
 a provision of the student athlete's team contract;
 (B)  the compensation for the use of the student
 athlete's name, image, or likeness exceeds the fair market value of
 the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness;
 (C)  the compensation for the use of the student
 athlete's name, image, or likeness is provided:
 (i)  in exchange for athletic performance or
 attendance at the institution; or
 (ii)  by the institution or a person
 affiliated with the institution; or
 (D)  the duration of the contract extends beyond
 the student athlete's participation in the intercollegiate
 athletic program; and
 (3)  may not enter into a contract for the student
 athlete's representation by an athlete agent relating to use of the
 student athlete's name, image, or likeness unless the athlete agent
 holds a certificate of registration under Chapter 2051, Occupations
 Code.
 (h)  An institution to which this section applies that
 identifies a provision in a contract disclosed to the institution
 by a student athlete under Subsection (g)(1) that conflicts with a
 provision in the student athlete's team contract shall promptly
 disclose the conflict to the student athlete or the student
 athlete's representative, if applicable.
 (i)  An athletic association, conference, or other group or
 organization with authority over intercollegiate athletics,
 including the National Collegiate Athletic Association, may not:
 (1)  prohibit or prevent a student athlete from
 participating in an intercollegiate athletic program at an
 institution to which this section applies because the student
 athlete:
 (A)  earns compensation from the use of the
 student athlete's name, image, or likeness; or
 (B)  obtains professional representation,
 including representation by an athlete agent or attorney, for
 contracts or other legal matters relating to use of the student
 athlete's name, image, or likeness;
 (2)  prohibit or prevent a student athlete
 participating in an intercollegiate athletic program at an
 institution to which this section applies from engaging in conduct
 described by Subdivision (1)(A) or (B); or
 (3)  provide a prospective student athlete of an
 intercollegiate athletic program at an institution to which this
 section applies with compensation in relation to the prospective
 student athlete's name, image, or likeness.
 (j)  An institution to which this section applies shall
 require a student athlete participating in an intercollegiate
 athletic program at the institution to attend a literacy and life
 skills workshop at the beginning of the student's first and third
 academic years at the institution. The workshop must be at least
 five hours in duration and include information on financial aid,
 debt management, time management, budgeting, and academic
 resources available to the student athlete. The institution may
 not during the workshop allow any provider of financial products or
 services to:
 (1)  market, advertise, or refer the provider's
 services to a student athlete; or
 (2)  solicit a student athlete to use the provider's
 services.
 SECTION 2.  Section 2051.351, Occupations Code, is amended
 by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
 (b-1)  This chapter, including this section, does not
 prohibit an athlete agent from representing a student athlete in
 the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness in
 accordance with Section 51.9246, Education Code.
 SECTION 3.  Section 51.9246(f), Education Code, as added by
 this Act, applies only to a contract entered into, modified, or
 renewed on or after the effective date of this Act.
 SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2022.