The Florida Senate

468.453  Licensure required; qualifications; examination; bond; exception; license nontransferable.--

(1)  Any person who practices as an athlete agent in this state must be licensed pursuant to this part.

(2)  A person shall be licensed as an athlete agent if the applicant:

(a)  Is at least 18 years of age.

(b)  Is of good moral character.

(c)  Passes an examination provided by the department which tests the applicant's proficiency to practice as an athlete agent, including, but not limited to, knowledge of the laws and rules of this state relating to athlete agents, this part, and chapter 455.

(d)  Has completed the application form and remitted an application fee not to exceed $500, an examination fee not to exceed the actual cost for the examination plus $500, an active licensure fee not to exceed $2,000, and all other applicable fees provided for in this part or in chapter 455.

(e)  Has submitted to the department a fingerprint card for a criminal history records check. The fingerprint card shall be forwarded to the Division of Criminal Justice Information Systems within the Department of Law Enforcement for purposes of processing the fingerprint card to determine if the applicant has a criminal history record. The fingerprint card shall also be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for purposes of processing the fingerprint card to determine if the applicant has a criminal history record. The information obtained by the processing of the fingerprint card by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall be sent to the department for the purpose of determining if the applicant is statutorily qualified for licensure.

(f)  Has not in any jurisdiction, within the preceding 5 years, been convicted or found guilty of or entered a plea of nolo contendere for, regardless of adjudication, a crime which relates to the applicant's practice or ability to practice as an athlete agent.

(g)  Has posted with the department a $15,000 surety bond issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state. The bond shall be in favor of the State of Florida, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, for the use and benefit of any student athlete or college or university within Florida who or which is injured or damaged, including reasonable costs and attorney's fees, as a result of acts or omissions by the athlete agent pursuant to a license issued under this part. The bond shall be written in the form determined by the department. The bond shall provide that the athlete agent is responsible for the acts or omissions of any representatives acting under the athlete agent's supervision or authority. The bond shall be in effect for and cover all times that the athlete agent has an active license and conducts business pursuant to that license in this or any other state.

(3)  Members of The Florida Bar are exempt from the state laws and rules component, and the fee for such, of the examination required by this section.

(4)  A license issued to an athlete agent is not transferable.

History.--s. 3, ch. 88-229; s. 42, ch. 89-162; s. 1, ch. 89-296; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 143, ch. 94-218; s. 3, ch. 95-307; s. 88, ch. 98-166; s. 140, ch. 99-251; s. 147, ch. 2000-160.