Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 21.

Present law makes it a Class E felony offense for an athlete agent, with the intent to influence a student athlete or, if the athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the athlete to enter into an agency contract, to take any of the following actions or encourage any other individual to take or assist any other individual in taking any of the following actions on behalf of the agent:<br /> <br /> (1) Give any materially false or misleading information or make a materially false promise or representation;<br /> (2) Furnish anything of value to a student athlete before the student athlete enters into the agency contract; or<br /> (3) Furnish anything of value to any individual other than the student athlete or another registered athlete agent.<br /> <br /> This bill creates an exception to the offense whereby a certified athlete agent may pay expenses incurred before the signing of an agency contract by a student athlete, a family member of the student athlete, or an individual of a class of individuals authorized to receive the expenses by the national association that certified the agent if the expenses are:<br /> <br /> (1) For the benefit of an athlete who is a member of a class of athletes authorized to receive the benefit by the national association that certified the agent;<br /> (2) Of a type authorized to be paid by a certified athlete agent by the national association that certified the agent; and<br /> (3) For a purpose authorized by the national association that certified the agent.<br /> <br /> This bill defines "certified athlete agent" to mean a registered athlete agent who is certified to be an athlete agent in a particular sport by a national association that promotes or regulates intercollegiate athletics and establishes eligibility standards for participation by a student athlete in that sport.<br /> <br />