Senate Bill sb1788

    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 1788

    By Senator Hill





    1-1729-03                                           See HB 389

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to student athletes; creating

  3         s. 877.135, F.S.; prohibiting the giving or

  4         offering of inducements to certain student

  5         athletes for the purpose of encouraging such

  6         athlete to attend or not attend certain

  7         academic institutions, to become a professional

  8         athlete, or to endorse products or commercial

  9         establishments; providing exceptions; providing

10         penalties; providing an effective date.

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12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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14         Section 1.  Section 877.135, Florida Statutes, is

15  created to read:

16         877.135  Corrupting or attempting to corrupt student

17  athletes.--

18         (1)  Whoever gives or offers any inducement to a high

19  school or middle school athlete with the intent of encouraging

20  such athlete to attend or not attend a particular academic

21  institution, to become a professional athlete, or to endorse a

22  product or commercial establishment commits a misdemeanor of

23  the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by

24  a fine not to exceed the larger of $1,000 or three times the

25  value of the inducement given or offered. Nothing herein shall

26  prohibit the prosecution of such person under any other laws.

27         (2)  The provisions of this section shall not apply to

28  the offering of a scholarship by the academic institution or

29  the provision of items and expenses specifically permitted

30  under the rules and regulations governing the recruitment of

31  athletes by the academic institution.  The provisions of this

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 1788
    1-1729-03                                           See HB 389




  1  section shall also not apply to any offer of employment by a

  2  professional sports team or organization that has provided the

  3  athlete with a written statement outlining any limitations

  4  which the acceptance of such offer will place on the amateur

  5  career of such athlete.

  6         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.