Bill Text: NY A08219 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Enacts the student athlete bill of rights.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-08 - referred to higher education [A08219 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A08219-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         8219
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   October 24, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M. of A. SEPULVEDA, COLTON, ROBERTS, CLARK, ROSA -- read
         once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
       AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting  the  student
         athlete  bill  of  rights;  and  providing  for  the  repeal  of  such
         provisions upon expiration thereof
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  This  act shall be known and may be cited as the "student
    2  athlete bill of rights".
    3    S 2. The Legislature finds and declares the following:
    4    1. Meeting the educational needs  of  student  athletes  should  be  a
    5  priority for intercollegiate athletic programs.
    6    2.  New  York's  institutions  of higher education that participate in
    7  Division I and Division II intercollegiate athletics collectively gener-
    8  ate millions of dollars annually in media contracts,  and  this  revenue
    9  would not exist without the efforts of student athletes.
   10    3.   Student  athletes  generate  large  revenues  for  many  athletic
   11  programs, spend approximately forty  hours  per  week  participating  in
   12  their  respective sports, and suffer current and historically low gradu-
   13  ation rates.
   14    4.  Providing  adequate  health  and  safety  protection  for  student
   15  athletes can help prevent serious injury and death.
   16    5.  Current and former student athletes can be left to pay for medical
   17  expenses incurred from injuries suffered while participating  in  inter-
   18  collegiate athletics.
   19    6.  Institutions  of  higher  education  should  provide their student
   20  athletes with the same due process protection afforded to  students  who
   21  do not participate in athletics.
   22    7. Athletic programs in this state are subject to federal gender equi-
   23  ty  requirements  under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20
   24  U.S.C. Sec. 1681 et seq.).
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD11713-01-3
       A. 8219                             2
    1    8. An institution of higher education should not  punish  any  student
    2  athlete for transferring to another institution of higher education.
    3    9.  An  institution  of  higher  education  should  not  use funds for
    4  purposes of this part that are dedicated for the benefit of the  general
    5  student body.
    6    S  3.  The  education  law is amended by adding a new section 679-f to
    7  read as follows:
    8    S 679-F. COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP. 1. DEFINITIONS. AS  USED  IN
    9  THIS SECTION:
   10    (A)  "ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION" MEANS ANY ORGANIZATION THAT IS RESPONSIBLE
   11  FOR GOVERNING INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.
   12    (B) "ATHLETIC PROGRAM" MEANS AN INTERCOLLEGIATE  ATHLETIC  PROGRAM  AT
   13  ANY  INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF PARAGRAPH (D)
   14  OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   15    (C) "GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE" MEANS THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENT ATHLETES
   16  WHO GRADUATE FROM THAT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION WITHIN SIX  YEARS
   17  OF  THEIR  INITIAL  ENROLLMENT,  EXCLUDING  OUTGOING  TRANSFERS  IN GOOD
   18  ACADEMIC STANDING WITH ATHLETIC  ELIGIBILITY  REMAINING,  AND  INCLUDING
   19  INCOMING  TRANSFERS. THE RATE IS TO BE CALCULATED BY COMBINING THE RATES
   20  OF THE FOUR MOST RECENT CLASSES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE  EXACT  MANNER
   21  AS THE RATE IS CALCULATED UNDER NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
   22  RULES.
   23    (D)  "INSTITUTION  OF  HIGHER EDUCATION" MEANS ANY CAMPUS OF THE STATE
   24  UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, THE  CITY  UNIVERSITY  OF  NEW  YORK,  COMMUNITY
   25  COLLEGES  AS  DEFINED IN SECTION SIXTY-THREE HUNDRED ONE OF THIS CHAPTER
   26  AND ANY FOUR-YEAR PRIVATE UNIVERSITY LOCATED IN NEW YORK, THAT MAINTAINS
   27  AN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC PROGRAM.
   28    (E) "MEDIA RIGHTS" MEANS THE RIGHTS TO MEDIA COVERAGE OF INTERCOLLEGI-
   29  ATE ATHLETICS INCLUDED IN CONTRACTS THAT ARE ENTERED INTO BY INTERCOLLE-
   30  GIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCES AND TELEVISION  NETWORKS  AND  THAT  GENERATE
   31  MONETARY PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
   32    (F) "STUDENT ATHLETE" MEANS ANY COLLEGE STUDENT WHO PARTICIPATES IN AN
   33  INTERCOLLEGIATE  ATHLETIC PROGRAM OF AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION,
   34  AND INCLUDES STUDENT ATHLETES WHO PARTICIPATE IN  BASKETBALL,  FOOTBALL,
   35  AND OTHER INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORTS.
   36    2.  SCHOLARSHIP.  COMMENCING WITH THE TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN--TWO THOU-
   37  SAND FIFTEEN ACADEMIC YEAR, AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL OF
   38  THE FOLLOWING:
   39    (A) (1) IF AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM DOES NOT RENEW AN ATHLETIC  SCHOLARSHIP
   40  OF  A  STUDENT  ATHLETE  WHO SUFFERS AN INCAPACITATING INJURY OR ILLNESS
   41  RESULTING FROM HIS OR HER PARTICIPATION IN THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM, AND THE
   42  INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION'S MEDICAL STAFF DETERMINES  THAT  HE  OR
   43  SHE IS MEDICALLY INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS,
   44  THE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE AN EQUIVALENT SCHOLAR-
   45  SHIP  THAT,  COMBINED  WITH  THE TOTAL DURATION OF ANY PREVIOUS ATHLETIC
   46  SCHOLARSHIP OR SCHOLARSHIPS RECEIVED BY THE  STUDENT  ATHLETE,  WILL  BE
   47  PROVIDED  FOR  A TOTAL OF UP TO FIVE ACADEMIC YEARS OR UNTIL THE STUDENT
   48  ATHLETE COMPLETES HIS OR HER UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE, WHICHEVER  PERIOD  IS
   49  SHORTER.  ADDITIONAL  YEARS  MAY  BE  PROVIDED  AT THE DISCRETION OF THE
   50  INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
   51    (2) IF A STUDENT ATHLETE TAKES A TEMPORARY LEAVE OF  ABSENCE  FROM  AN
   52  INSTITUTION  OF  HIGHER EDUCATION, THE DURATION OF THAT LEAVE OF ABSENCE
   53  SHALL NOT COUNT AGAINST THE FIVE-YEAR LIMIT ON ELIGIBILITY FOR AN EQUIV-
   54  ALENT SCHOLARSHIP AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   55    (3) AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE AN EQUIVALENT SCHOLARSHIP  TO  A
   56  STUDENT ATHLETE WHO WAS ON AN ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP AND IS IN GOOD STAND-
       A. 8219                             3
    1  ING,  BUT  HAS  EXHAUSTED HIS OR HER ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY, FOR UP TO ONE
    2  YEAR OR UNTIL THE STUDENT ATHLETE COMPLETES HIS OR  HER  PRIMARY  UNDER-
    3  GRADUATE  DEGREE,  WHICHEVER  IS  SHORTER;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT AN
    4  ATHLETIC  PROGRAM  WITH  A  GRADUATION  SUCCESS RATE THAT IS ABOVE SIXTY
    5  PERCENT, DISAGGREGATED BY TEAM, SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS
    6  OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
    7    (4) A STUDENT ATHLETE WHOSE ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP IS  NOT  RENEWED  FOR
    8  CAUSE  BY AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM SHALL RECEIVE NO BENEFITS UNDER THIS PART,
    9  BUT MAY APPEAL THIS DECISION WITHIN THE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER  EDUCATION
   10  ATTENDED BY THE STUDENT OR WITHIN THE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OR ASSOCIATION
   11  OF  WHICH THAT INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS A MEMBER, AS APPROPRI-
   12  ATE.
   13    3. FINANCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS COUNSELING. EACH ATHLETIC  PROGRAM  SHALL
   14  CONDUCT  A  FINANCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOP FOR ALL OF ITS FIRST-YEAR
   15  AND THIRD-YEAR STUDENT ATHLETES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE  ACADEMIC  YEAR.
   16  THIS WORKSHOP SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, INFORMATION CONCERN-
   17  ING  FINANCIAL  AID, DEBT MANAGEMENT, AND A RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR FULL-
   18  AND PARTIAL-SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT ATHLETES LIVING ON OR OFF CAMPUS  DURING
   19  THE  ACADEMIC  YEAR  AND  THE  SUMMER TERM BASED ON THE CURRENT ACADEMIC
   20  YEAR'S COST OF ATTENDANCE. THE WORKSHOP SHALL ALSO  INCLUDE  INFORMATION
   21  ON  TIME  MANAGEMENT  SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS AS A STUDENT ATHLETE,
   22  AND ACADEMIC RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON CAMPUS.
   23    4. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS. AN  INSTITUTION  OF  HIGHER  EDUCATION  SHALL
   24  GRANT A STUDENT ATHLETE THE SAME RIGHTS AS OTHER STUDENTS WITH REGARD TO
   25  ANY AND ALL MATTERS RELATED TO POSSIBLE ADVERSE OR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS,
   26  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT  NECESSARILY  LIMITED TO, ACTIONS INVOLVING ATHLET-
   27  ICALLY RELATED FINANCIAL AID.
   28    5. REQUEST FOR TRANSFER. AN  ATHLETIC  PROGRAM  SHALL  RESPOND  WITHIN
   29  SEVEN  BUSINESS  DAYS  WITH  AN  ANSWER  TO  A STUDENT ATHLETE'S WRITTEN
   30  REQUEST TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
   31    6. INSURANCE. (A) UNLESS A STUDENT ATHLETE  DECLINES  THE  PAYMENT  OF
   32  PREMIUMS, AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE PREMI-
   33  UMS  OF  EACH  STUDENT  ATHLETE  WHOSE HOUSEHOLD HAS AN INCOME AND ASSET
   34  LEVEL THAT DOES NOT EXCEED THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, AS ADJUSTED  ANNU-
   35  ALLY, FOR INSURANCE COVERING CLAIMS RESULTING FROM THE STUDENT ATHLETE'S
   36  PARTICIPATION IN THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM.
   37    (B)  AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE INSURANCE
   38  DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT APPLICABLE TO THE CLAIM OF  ANY  STUDENT  ATHLETE  WHO
   39  SUFFERS AN INJURY RESULTING FROM HIS OR HER PARTICIPATION IN THE ATHLET-
   40  IC PROGRAM AND MAKES A CLAIM RELATING TO THAT INJURY.
   41    (C)  IF  A STUDENT ATHLETE SUFFERS AN INJURY RESULTING FROM HIS OR HER
   42  PARTICIPATION IN THE ATHLETIC  PROGRAM  THAT  REQUIRES  ONGOING  MEDICAL
   43  TREATMENT,  THE  ATHLETIC  PROGRAM  SHALL  PROVIDE, FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO
   44  YEARS FOLLOWING THE STUDENT ATHLETE'S GRADUATION OR SEPARATION FROM  THE
   45  INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
   46    (1)  ALL  MEDICAL  TREATMENT  NECESSARY  FOR  TREATMENT OF THE STUDENT
   47  ATHLETE'S INJURY OR CONDITION; OR
   48    (2) HEALTH INSURANCE IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE  COVERAGE  FOR
   49  ALL  MEDICAL  TREATMENT NECESSARY FOR TREATMENT OF THE STUDENT ATHLETE'S
   50  INJURY OR CONDITION, TOGETHER WITH ALL RESULTING DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNTS.
   51    (D) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT APPLY TO PRE-EXISTING
   52  MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT PRE-DATE THE STUDENT ATHLETE'S PARTICIPATION  IN
   53  THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM.
   54    7.  GUIDELINES.  AN  ATHLETIC PROGRAM SHALL ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT GUIDE-
   55  LINES TO PREVENT, ASSESS, AND TREAT SPORTS-RELATED CONCUSSIONS AND DEHY-
   56  DRATION.  IN ADDITION, AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM  SHALL  ADOPT  AND  IMPLEMENT
       A. 8219                             4
    1  EXERCISE  AND  SUPERVISION GUIDELINES FOR ANY STUDENT ATHLETE IDENTIFIED
    2  WITH POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING HEALTH CONDITIONS WHO PARTICIPATES  IN
    3  AN ATHLETIC PROGRAM.
    4    8.  APPLICABILITY.  (A) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY
    5  TO AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT RECEIVES, AS AN AVERAGE, LESS
    6  THAN TEN MILLION DOLLARS IN ANNUAL INCOME DERIVED FROM MEDIA RIGHTS  FOR
    7  INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS.
    8    (B)  AN  INSTITUTION  OF HIGHER EDUCATION SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
    9  THIS SECTION SHALL RELY EXCLUSIVELY ON REVENUE DERIVED FROM MEDIA RIGHTS
   10  FOR INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS TO DEFRAY ANY  COSTS  ACCRUED  UNDER  THIS
   11  SECTION.
   12    S  4.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
   13  deemed repealed on June 30, 2024.
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