SB444 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Gerald O. Dial

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Athlete Agents, student athletes, negotiating enrollment at specific educational institutions prohibited, criminal penalties, registration with proof of league players association required, commission authorized to issue reprimands and additional penalties, Secs. 8-26A-2, 8-26A-4, 8-26A-5, 8-26A-6, 8-26A-9, 8-26A-10, 8-26A-11, 8-26A-13, 8-26A-14, 8-26A-15, 8-26A-17, 8-26A-30 am'd

Summary

SB444 tightens Alabama's Uniform Athlete Agents Act by banning agents from negotiating student-athlete enrollment at a specific school for pay, requiring league certification and bonding where needed, updating registration and penalties, and expanding the athlete-agent regulatory Commission.

What This Bill Does

It bars an athlete agent from negotiating a student's enrollment at a particular educational institution in exchange for compensation. It requires certification by the corresponding professional league players' association (or a bond if none exists) and updates the registration process, including fees and required information. It also lets the Alabama Athlete Agents Commission issue reprimands and censures, suspend or revoke licenses after multiple violations, and adds Birmingham Southern College and Samford University to the Commission, with the act becoming effective several months after passage; it notes a local-funding exemption under Amendment 621.

Who It Affects

• Student-athletes and the educational institutions they attend would be protected from agents negotiating enrollment at a specific school for pay and would receive notices about agency contracts, with potential voiding options if contracts are problematic.
• Athlete agents and professional leagues associations would face certification requirements (or bonding if no association exists), updated registration rules and fees, stricter recordkeeping, and new enforcement penalties (letters of reprimand, suspensions, or permanent disassociation), along with expanded Commission oversight.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits an athlete agent or any other compensated person from negotiating enrollment at a particular educational institution on behalf of a student-athlete.
• Requires certification by the corresponding professional league players' association for the sport (or a bond if no such association exists) to be eligible to act as an athlete agent; if no association exists, a $25,000 surety bond may be required.
• Revises registration information and fees, expands recordkeeping requirements, and sets terms for registration renewal (valid for two years).
• Requires agency contracts to disclose fees, who is paid, expenses, services, duration, and execution date, plus a conspicuous warning to student-athletes about eligibility and cancellation rights.
• Mandates notification to athletic directors/head coaches within 72 hours of contract signing and requires student-athletes to notify the institution; imposes five-year record retention by agents and reporting responsibilities.
• Provides penalties for violations (public letter of reprimand for first violation; license suspension after second; permanent disassociation after third); includes other penalties for student-athletes and allows administrative fines up to $25,000 per violation.
• Expands the Alabama Athlete Agents Commission to include representatives from Birmingham Southern College and Samford University and outlines its composition, duties, and sunset provisions.
• Effective date is the first day of the third month after passage and approval; the measure is noted as exempt from certain local-funding requirements under Amendment 621.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Athlete Agents