National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws

211 E. Ontario St., Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60611
tel 312-915-0195, fax 312-915-0187

For Immediate Release

STATES ADOPT IMPORTANT SPORTS AGENTS LEGISLATION

25 UNIFORM ENACTMENTS EXPECTED BY YEAR'S END

February 28, 2002 — In response to continuing eligibility and sanction problems caused by
unscrupulous sports agent recruitment practices, there is a move across the country to better
regulate the activities of sports agents. The Uniform Athlete Agents Act (UAAA), which has
been introduced in more than half the states, and has already been adopted in 13, governs
contractual relationships between student-athletes, athlete agents and academic institutions.

Drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and approved
by that organization in 2000, it is endorsed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) and its 1,000 member universities and colleges, and was recently approved by the
American Bar Association. The UAAA is on the current legislative agenda in at least 14 states
from New York to Washington.

There are many problems associated with illegal athlete agent conduct. Far too often, the
irresponsible actions of athlete agents has led to the loss of the student athlete's collegiate
eligibility and athletic scholarship, the imposition of sanctions and other significant penalties on
the student athlete's institution, and the taint of "scandal" on both the school and the larger
intercollegiate sports community. The Uniform Athlete Agents Act protects the interests of
student athletes and their institutions by requiring sports agents to register with the state, by
mandating contractual protections for student athletes, and by holding agents responsible for
the harms they cause to our nation's schools.

While some states do have older statutes regulating athlete agents that address these problems,
these laws vary considerably from state to state, and many contain provisions that are vague
and not enforced. Not surprisingly, many athlete agents ignore or otherwise fail to comply with
existing state registration requirements and other provisions contained in current athlete agent
laws.

Under the UAAA, agents must disclose certain information, including years of experience as
a professional agent, business history as an agent, and any record of criminal or administrative
sanction. If the UAAA is enacted nationwide, agent registration provisions will be uniform
across state lines, lowering costs and making compliance easier.

"Young athletes can be easily overwhelmed and are easy prey for unscrupulous sports agents
who exploit these kids for their personal gain," says NCCUSL Deputy Legislative Director
Michael Kerr. "This legislation establishes much needed protections that will benefit student
athletes as well as colleges and universities, and sets long-overdue standards for the sports
agent industry.

The UAAA was enacted in 2001 in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of
Columbia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah
and West Virginia. It has been introduced and is on the agenda in the legislatures of Florida,
Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,
New York, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin. Several other states are studying
the act and may introduce it this legislative session.

For further information, please contact John McCabe, Michael Kerr, or
Katie Robinson at 312-915-0195, or Gabrielle Bamberger at 212-333-5222.