Sample Letter for Introduction
Dear [Senator/Representative] [Last Name]:
On behalf of [Add Institution], I urge you to introduce the Uniform Athlete Agents Act
(UAAA) into the [State] legislature in an attempt to curtail the harmful impact of
unscrupulous athlete agent conduct on intercollegiate athletics. In 2000, The National
Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) approved the UAAA,
a model state law governing the relationships between student-athletes, athlete agents and
academic institutions that provides for uniform registration, certification and background
checks on sports agents. In the event that the Act is violated, the law provides for the
imposition of criminal, civil and/or administrative penalties against an unscrupulous
agent. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its member institutions
are seeking the UAAA’s adoption in every state, and I urge your support and co-
sponsorship of the [Bill No.] in order to help thwart dishonest athlete agent conduct in
[State].
Unprincipled agent conduct presents a legitimate threat to the vitality of amateur
athletics. While many agents perform a valuable service for their clients, far too often
dishonest agent conduct, intended to take advantage of the student-athlete for financial
gain, results in the loss of student-athlete eligibility, the imposition of financial penalties
on the student-athlete's institution, and the taint of a “scandal” on both the institution and
the entire community of amateur athletics. Furthermore, while the student-athlete and the
athlete’s institution face significant penalties as a result of the agent’s conduct, often the
agent is not held accountable for his actions. In an effort to help protect student-athletes
and their institutions, over thirty states have enacted various non-UAAA laws designed to
regulate athlete agent conduct. These laws vary considerably from state to state, however,
which presents problems with regard to multi-jurisdictional enforcement and notice of the
law. In an attempt to ensure that agents do not circumvent the legislative intent of all
athlete agent laws by taking advantage of jurisdictional technicalities, the UAAA creates
uniformity of state athlete agent laws by homogenizing registration requirements, fees,
consumer protection requirements and notice provisions for both the athletes and their
institutions. As of [date from Web], [Number from Web] jurisdictions had enacted the
UAAA, and [Number from Web] additional states had active UAAA legislation currently
under consideration in their legislative chambers.
[State] [has no law that regulates/has law inconsistent with the UAAA that attempts to
regulate] athlete agent conduct and I strongly support passage of the UAAA. In an effort
to protect student-athletes and their institutions, and to hold agents accountable for their
unprincipled conduct, I strongly urge you to sponsor introduction of the UAAA into the
[State] legislature.