US Codex
Bill
Notes

To establish a commission to identify and examine issues of national concern related to the conduct of intercollegiate athletics, to make recommendations for the resolution of the issues, and for other purposes.

H.R. 5743 · 113th Congress · Nov 19, 2014 · Lineage

A BILL

Section 1 Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
properly conducted intercollegiate athletic programs contribute to the beneficial development of student athletes and the vibrancy of campus life at institutions of higher education;
(2)
recent events pose grave threats to the financial stability of athletic programs at institutions of higher education and create pressure on institutions of higher education to consider eliminating non-revenue Olympic sports or increasing general fund, student fee, and donor subsidies to athletics at a time when such resources are needed for priority academic programs;
(3)
there are concerns about the health and safety needs of student athletes with regard to adequacy of injury protections and other medical protocols;
(4)
academic integrity at institutions of higher education is threatened by increased incidences of academic fraud involving student athletes, failure to provide adequate remedial programs for academically unprepared admitted athletes, and excessive athletics time demands;
(5)
student athletes faced with loss of financial aid and other benefits and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member institutions in danger of financial penalties, loss of media rights, and public embarrassment due to alleged rules violations are not being afforded adequate due process;
(6)
the NCAA, member institutions of the NCAA, and college presidents have not adequately addressed these issues; and
(7)
reform is so complex and important to higher education that a blue ribbon commission of sport experts and members of Congress should be convened to objectively study these issues and propose solutions.

Sec. 2 Establishment

There is established a commission to be known as the Presidential Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.

Sec. 3 Duties

(a)
Review— The Commission shall review and analyze the following issues related to intercollegiate athletics:
(1)
The interaction of athletics and academics, including—
(A)
the extent to which existing athletic practices allow student athletes to succeed as both students and athletes;
(B)
how athletics affect the academic mission, academic integrity, and credit worthiness of institutions of higher education;
(C)
graduation rates of student athletes; and
(D)
standards of academic eligibility for participation in and terms of scholarships for student athletes.
(2)
The financing of intercollegiate athletics, including—
(A)
sources of revenue, including student fees, media contracts, and licensing agreements;
(B)
expenditures of revenue, including compliance with title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, coaching salaries, and facilities development;
(C)
the ability of institutions of higher education to finance intercollegiate athletics;
(D)
the financial transparency of intercollegiate athletics;
(E)
the criteria for receipt of financial disbursements or rewards from athletic membership associations;
(F)
rules related to earnings and benefits by student athletes, including the possibility of commercial compensation for the use of the names, images, and likenesses of student athletes and whether a student athlete may retain a personal representative to negotiate on behalf of the student athlete;
(G)
tax regulations related to revenue from intercollegiate athletics; and
(H)
Federal judicial decisions that affect compensation for student athletes or the right of student athletes to organize as a collective bargaining unit.
(3)
Recruitment and retention of student athletes, including rules related to—
(A)
professional sports participation;
(B)
transfer of student athletes to other institutions; and
(C)
recruitment and representations made to potential student athletes.
(4)
Oversight and governance practices.
(5)
Health and safety protections for student athletes.
(6)
Due process and other protections related to the enforcement of rules and regulations related to student athletes.
(7)
Any other issues the Commission considers relevant to understanding the state of intercollegiate athletics.
(b)
Recommendations— The Commission shall develop recommendations regarding the issues identified in subsection (a) based on the review and analysis of the issues under such subsection.

Sec. 4 Membership

(a)
In general— The Commission shall be composed of 17 members appointed as follows:
(1)
Five members appointed by the President, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and the Attorney General.
(2)
Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, including—
(A)
one Member of the House of Representatives; and
(B)
two individuals who are not Members of Congress.
(3)
Three members appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, including—
(A)
one Member of the House of Representatives; and
(B)
two individuals who are not Members of Congress.
(4)
Three members appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, including—
(A)
one Member of the Senate; and
(B)
two individuals who are not Members of Congress.
(5)
Three members appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, including—
(A)
one Member of the Senate; and
(B)
two individuals who are not Members of Congress.
(b)
Qualifications— Appointments shall be made from individuals who are specially qualified to serve on the Commission by virtue of their education, training, or experience.
(c)
Vacancy— Any vacancy on the Commission shall not affect the powers of the Commission, but shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(d)
Chair— The Chair of the Commission shall be elected by the members.
(e)
Reimbursement; service without pay— Members of the Commission shall serve without pay, except members of the Commission shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in carrying out the functions of the Commission, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently by the Federal Government are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

Sec. 5 Staff

The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this paragraph may exceed the equivalent of that payable for a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.

Sec. 6 Meetings

(a)
In general— The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chair or of a majority of its members.
(b)
First meeting— The first such meeting shall occur not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Sec. 7 Powers

(a)
In general— The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.
(b)
Delegation— Any member or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
(c)
Access to information— The Commission may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
(d)
Use of mails— The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States.
(e)
Administrative support— The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such administrative support services as the Commission may request that are necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this Act.

Sec. 8 Report

Not later than the date that is 1 year after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the President and the Congress a written report of its findings and recommendations based on the review and analysis required by section 3.

Sec. 9 Termination

The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Commission submits the report required by section 8.

Sec. 10 Definitions

(a)
Commission— In this Act, the term “Commission” means the Presidential Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics established by section 2.
(b)
Institution of higher education— In this Act, the term “institution of higher education” means any institution that—
(1)
meets the definition in section 102(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(1)); and
(2)
has student athletes who are eligible for Federal student loans.