Law Regulating Agents Has Been Used Only Once

For the past 10 years, California has attempted to regulate its sports agents through the Athlete Agents Registration Act. But only once has the act been enforced--when former Detroit Lion football player Reggie Rogers, from Sacramento, used it to void a contract he had signed as a student with an unregistered agent. And of the estimated more than 500 sports agents operating in California, only 20 are registered with the state.

The act, passed in 1981, requires sports agents who are not lawyers to register with the state, post a $25,000 bond and comply with specific sections of the labor code. Lawyers also are subject to most sections of the labor code. Noncompliance can result in an agent losing his license and being charged with a misdemeanor and makes him subject to imprisonment and/or a fine.

The law deals primarily with agent contracts, including fees and methods of handling disputes and other provisions that protect an athlete’s interest.

However, legislation proposed in January by Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys) goes further. If it is passed, sports agents would be prohibited from initiating any contact with an athlete while the athlete is competing for a school without suffering discipline and stiff fines. The NCAA allows an agent to contact a student athlete to discuss services. But Robbins’ bill, intended to protect the athlete from leaving school early because of an “agent’s promises,” would make that contact an offense.

Regardless of the law, the state’s biggest problem seems to be how to enforce it. An official says the Dept. of Industrial Relations is willing and able to enforce the law, but never gets complaints.