Virginia Law

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Agency contract" means an agreement in which a student-athlete authorizes a person to negotiate or solicit on behalf of the student-athlete a professional sports services contract or endorsement contract.

"Athlete agent" means an individual, whether or not registered under this chapter, who (i) directly or indirectly recruits or solicits a student-athlete to enter into an agency contract or, for compensation, procures employment or offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for a student-athlete as a professional athlete or member of a professional sports team or organization; (ii) for compensation or in anticipation of compensation related to a student-athlete's participation in athletics (a) serves the student-athlete in an advisory capacity on a matter related to finances, business pursuits, or career management decisions, unless the individual is an employee of an educational institution acting exclusively as an employee of the institution for the benefit of the institution, or (b) manages the business affairs of the student-athlete by providing assistance with bills, payments, contracts, or taxes; (iii) in anticipation of representing a student-athlete for a purpose related to the student-athlete's participation in athletics (a) gives consideration to the student-athlete or another person, (b) serves the student-athlete in an advisory capacity on a matter related to finances, business pursuits, or career management decisions, or (c) manages the business affairs of the student-athlete by providing assistance with bills, payments, contracts, or taxes; or (iv) represents a student-athlete in connection with issues related to name, image, or likeness, including negotiating, securing, obtaining, arranging, and managing name, image, or likeness opportunities. "Athlete agent" does not include an individual who (a) acts solely on behalf of a professional sports team or organization or (b) is a licensed, registered, or certified professional and offers or provides services to a student-athlete customarily provided by members of the profession, unless the individual (1) also recruits or solicits the student-athlete to enter into an agency contract, (2) also, for compensation, procures employment or offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for the student-athlete as a professional athlete or member of a professional sports team or organization, or (3) receives consideration for providing the services calculated using a different method than for an individual who is not a student-athlete.

"Athletic director" means the individual responsible for administering the overall athletic program of an educational institution or, if an educational institution has separately administered athletic programs for male students and female students, the athletic program for males or the athletic program for females, as appropriate.

"Director" means the Director of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.

"Educational institution" means a public or private (i) elementary school, (ii) secondary school, (iii) technical or vocational school, (iv) community college, or (v) institution of higher education.

"Endorsement contract" means an agreement under which a student-athlete is employed or receives consideration to use on behalf of the other party any value that the student-athlete may have because of publicity, reputation, following, or fame obtained because of athletic ability or performance.

"Enrolled" or "enrolls" means registered for courses and attending athletic practice or class.

"Intercollegiate sport" means a sport played at the collegiate level for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student-athlete are established by a national association that promotes or regulates collegiate athletics.

"Interscholastic sport" means a sport played between educational institutions that are not community colleges or institutions of higher education.

"Licensed, registered, or certified professional" means an individual, other than an athlete agent, who is licensed, registered, or certified as an attorney, dealer in securities, financial planner, insurance agent, real estate broker or sales agent, tax consultant, accountant, or member of a profession by the Commonwealth or a nationally recognized organization that licenses, registers, or certifies members of the profession on the basis of experience, education, or testing.

"Person" means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality or other legal entity.

"Professional sports services contract" means an agreement under which an individual is employed as a professional athlete or agrees to render services as a player on a professional sports team or with a professional sports organization.

"Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

"Recruit or solicit" means an attempt to influence the choice of an athlete agent by a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete. "Recruit or solicit" does not include giving advice on the selection of a particular agent in a family, coaching, or social situation unless the individual giving the advice does so because of the receipt or anticipated receipt of an economic benefit, directly or indirectly, from the agent.

"Registration" means registration as an athlete agent.

"Sign" means, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record, (i) to execute or adopt a tangible symbol or (ii) to attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or process.

"State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

"Student-athlete" means an individual who is eligible to attend an educational institution and engages in, is eligible to engage in, or may be eligible in the future to engage in any interscholastic or intercollegiate sport. "Student-athlete" does not include, for a particular interscholastic or intercollegiate sport, an individual permanently ineligible to participate in that sport.

2020, c. 481; 2022, cc. 510, 638.

A. The Director shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter. In addition to the powers and duties otherwise authorized by law, the Director shall have the powers and duties of a regulatory board authorized by § 54.1-202 that are consistent with this chapter and shall have the power and duty to (i) promulgate such regulations in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) as are necessary to implement this chapter, (ii) charge each applicant for registration or renewal of registration a nonrefundable fee subject to the provisions of § 54.1-113, and (iii) issue cease and desist orders and otherwise seek to prevent continuing violations of this chapter.

B. This chapter, and any existing relevant regulations that are consistent with this chapter, shall govern the regulation of athlete agents in the Commonwealth unless and until the Director promulgates new or revised regulations pursuant to subsection A.

C. By acting as an athlete agent in the Commonwealth, a nonresident individual appoints the Secretary of the Commonwealth as the individual's agent for service of process in any civil action in the Commonwealth related to the individual acting as an athlete agent in the Commonwealth.

D. The Director may issue a subpoena for material that is relevant to the administration of this chapter.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-520.

A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection B, an individual may not act as an athlete agent in the Commonwealth without holding a valid certificate of registration under this chapter.

B. Before being issued a certificate of registration under this chapter, an individual may act as an athlete agent in the Commonwealth for all purposes except signing an agency contract if (i) a student-athlete or another person acting on behalf of the student-athlete initiates communication with the individual and (ii) not later than seven days after an initial act that requires the individual to register as an athlete agent under this chapter, the individual submits an application for registration as an athlete agent in the Commonwealth.

C. An agency contract resulting from conduct in violation of this section is void, and the athlete agent shall return any consideration received under the contract.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-521.

A. An applicant for registration as an athlete agent shall submit an application for registration to the Director in a form prescribed by the Director. The applicant shall be an individual, and the application shall be signed by the applicant under penalty of perjury and shall contain at least the following:

1. The name and date and place of birth of the applicant and the following contact information for the applicant: (i) the address of the applicant's principal place of business; (ii) work and mobile telephone numbers; and (iii) any means of communicating electronically, including a facsimile number, email address, and personal and business or employer websites;

2. The name of the applicant's business or employer, if applicable, including for each business or employer, its mailing address, telephone number, organization form, and the nature of the business;

3. Each social media account with which the applicant or the applicant's business or employer is affiliated;

4. Each business or occupation in which the applicant engaged within five years before the date of the application, including self-employment and employment by others, and any professional or occupational license, registration, or certification held by the applicant during that time;

5. A description of the applicant's (i) formal training as an athlete agent, (ii) practical experience as an athlete agent, and (iii) educational background relating to the applicant's activities as an athlete agent;

6. The name of each student-athlete for whom the applicant acted as an athlete agent within five years before the date of the application or, if the student-athlete is a minor, the name of the parent or guardian of the student-athlete, together with the student-athlete's sport and last known team;

7. The name and address of each person that (i) is a partner, member, officer, manager, associate, or profit sharer or directly or indirectly holds an equity interest of five percent or greater of the athlete agent's business if it is not a corporation and (ii) is an officer or director of a corporation employing the athlete agent or a shareholder having an interest of five percent or greater in the corporation;

8. A description of the status of any application by the applicant, or any person named under subdivision 7, for a state or federal business, professional, or occupational license, other than as an athlete agent, from a state or federal agency, including any denial, refusal to renew, suspension, withdrawal, or termination of the license and any reprimand or censure related to the license;

9. Whether the applicant, or any person named under subdivision 7, has pleaded guilty or no contest to, has been convicted of, or has charges pending for a crime that would involve moral turpitude or be a felony if committed in the Commonwealth and, if so, identification of (i) the crime, (ii) the law-enforcement agency involved, and (iii) if applicable, the date of the conviction and the fine or penalty imposed;

10. Whether, within 15 years before the date of application, the applicant, or any person named under subdivision 7, has been a defendant or respondent in a civil proceeding, including a proceeding seeking an adjudication of legal incompetence, and, if so, the date and a full explanation of each proceeding;

11. Whether the applicant, or any person named under subdivision 7, has an unsatisfied judgment or a judgment of continuing effect, including alimony or a domestic order in the nature of child support, which is not current at the date of the application;

12. Whether, within 10 years before the date of application, the applicant, or any person named under subdivision 7, was adjudicated bankrupt or was an owner of a business that was adjudicated bankrupt;

13. Whether there has been any administrative or judicial determination that the applicant, or any person named under subdivision 7, made a false, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent representation;

14. Each instance in which conduct of the applicant, or any person named under subdivision 7, resulted in the imposition of a sanction, suspension, or declaration of ineligibility to participate in an interscholastic or intercollegiate athletic event of a student-athlete or a sanction on an educational institution;

15. Each sanction, suspension, or disciplinary action taken against the applicant, or any person named under subdivision 7, arising out of occupational or professional conduct;

16. Whether there has been a denial of an application for, suspension or revocation of, refusal to renew, or abandonment of, the registration of the applicant, or any person named under subdivision 7, as an athlete agent in any state;

17. Each state in which the applicant currently is registered as an athlete agent or has applied to be registered as an athlete agent;

18. If the applicant is certified or registered by a professional league or players association, (i) the name of the league or association; (ii) the date of certification or registration and the date of expiration of the certification or registration, if any; and (iii) if applicable, the date of any denial of an application for, suspension or revocation of, refusal to renew, withdrawal of, or termination of the certification or registration or any reprimand or censure related to the certification or registration;

19. Whether the applicant is seeking an annual or two-year license; and

20. Any additional information required by the Director.

B. Instead of proceeding under subsection A, an individual registered as an athlete agent in another state may apply for registration as an athlete agent in the Commonwealth by submitting to the Director (i) a copy of the application for registration in the other state; (ii) a statement that identifies any material change in the information on that application or verifies there is no material change in the information, signed under penalty of perjury; and (iii) a copy of the certificate of registration from the other state.

C. The Director shall issue a certificate of registration to an individual who applies for registration under subsection B if the Director determines that (i) the application and registration requirements of the other state are substantially similar to or more restrictive than the requirements in this chapter and (ii) the registration has not been revoked or suspended and no action involving the individual's conduct as an athlete agent is pending against the individual or the individual's registration in any state.

D. For purposes of implementing subsection C, the Director shall (i) cooperate with national organizations concerned with athlete agent issues and agencies in other states that register athlete agents to develop a common registration form and determine which states have laws that are substantially similar to or more restrictive than this chapter and (ii) exchange information, including information related to actions taken against registered athlete agents or their registrations, with those organizations and agencies.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-522.

A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection B, the Director shall issue a certificate of registration to an applicant for registration who complies with subsection A of § 54.1-529.

B. The Director may refuse to issue a certificate of registration to an applicant for registration under subsection A of § 54.1-529 if the Director determines that the applicant has engaged in conduct that significantly adversely reflects on the applicant's fitness to act as an athlete agent. In making the determination, the Director may consider whether the applicant has (i) pleaded guilty or no contest to, has been convicted of, or has charges pending for a crime that would involve moral turpitude or be a felony if committed in the Commonwealth; (ii) made a materially false, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent representation in the application or as an athlete agent; (iii) engaged in conduct that would disqualify the applicant from serving in a fiduciary capacity; (iv) engaged in conduct prohibited by § 54.1-538; (v) had a registration as an athlete agent suspended, revoked, or denied in any state; (vi) been refused renewal of registration as an athlete agent in any state; (vii) engaged in conduct resulting in imposition of a sanction, suspension, or declaration of ineligibility to participate in an interscholastic or intercollegiate athletic event of a student-athlete or a sanction on an educational institution; or (viii) engaged in conduct that adversely reflects on the applicant's credibility, honesty, or integrity.

C. In making a determination under subsection B, the Director shall consider (i) how recently the conduct occurred, (ii) the nature of the conduct and the context in which it occurred, and (iii) other relevant conduct of the applicant.

D. An athlete agent registered under subsection A may apply to renew the registration by submitting an application for renewal in a form prescribed by the Director. The applicant shall sign the application for renewal under penalty of perjury and include current information on all matters required in an original application for registration.

E. An athlete agent registered under subsection C of § 54.1-529 may renew the registration by proceeding under subsection D or, if the registration in the other state has been renewed, by submitting to the Director copies of the application for renewal in the other state and the renewed registration from the other state. The Director shall renew the registration if the Director determines (i) the registration requirements of the other state are substantially similar to or more restrictive than the requirements in this chapter and (ii) the renewed registration has not been suspended or revoked and no action involving the individual's conduct as an athlete agent is pending against the individual or the individual's registration in any state.

F. A certificate of registration or renewal of registration under this chapter is valid for one or two years, as indicated in the applicant's application.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-523.

A. The Director may limit, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a registration of an individual registered under subsection A of § 54.1-530 for conduct that would have justified refusal to issue a certificate of registration under subsection B of § 54.1-530.

B. The Director may suspend or revoke the registration of an individual registered under subsection C of § 54.1-529 or renewed under subsection E of § 54.1-530 for any reason for which the Director could have refused to grant or renew registration or for conduct that would justify refusal to issue a certificate of registration under subsection B of § 54.1-530.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-524.

The Director may issue a temporary certificate of registration as an athlete agent while an application for registration or renewal of registration is pending.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-525.

An application for registration or renewal of registration as an athlete agent shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee for each of the following: (i) an initial application for registration, (ii) an application for registration based on a certificate of registration or its equivalent issued by another state, (iii) an application for renewal of registration, and (iv) an application for renewal of registration based on a renewal of registration or its equivalent in another state.

That fee shall be:

1. For a one-year registration or renewal, in the amount of $700;

2. For a two-year registration or renewal, in the amount of $1,150; or

3. For the fee set forth in subdivision 1 or 2, or both, of this section, a higher or lower fee that the Director determines by regulation is necessary and consistent with § 54.1-113.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-526.

A. An agency contract shall be in a record signed by the parties.

B. An agency contract shall contain:

1. A statement that the athlete agent is registered as an athlete agent in the Commonwealth and a list of any other states in which the agent is registered as an athlete agent;

2. The amount and method of calculating the consideration to be paid by the student-athlete for services to be provided by the agent under the contract and any other consideration the agent has received or will receive from any other source for entering into the contract or providing the services;

3. The name of any person not listed in the agent's application for registration or renewal of registration which will be compensated because the student-athlete signed the contract;

4. A description of any expenses the student-athlete agrees to reimburse;

5. A description of the services to be provided to the student-athlete;

6. The duration of the contract; and

7. The date of execution.

C. Subject to subsection G, an agency contract shall contain a conspicuous notice in boldface type and in substantially the following form:

"WARNING TO STUDENT-ATHLETE

IF YOU SIGN THIS CONTRACT:

(1) YOU MAY LOSE YOUR ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE AS A STUDENT-ATHLETE IN YOUR SPORT;

(2) IF YOUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION HAS AN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, WITHIN 72 HOURS OF SIGNING THIS CONTRACT OR BEFORE THE NEXT SCHEDULED ATHLETIC EVENT IN WHICH YOU PARTICIPATE, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, BOTH YOU AND YOUR ATHLETE AGENT MUST NOTIFY YOUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED INTO THIS CONTRACT AND PROVIDE THE NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE ATHLETE AGENT; AND

(3) YOU MAY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT WITHIN 14 DAYS. HOWEVER, CANCELLATION OF THIS CONTRACT DOES NOT GUARANTEE REINSTATEMENT OF YOUR ELIGIBILITY AS A STUDENT-ATHLETE IN YOUR SPORT."

D. An agency contract shall be accompanied by a separate record signed by the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, the parent or guardian of the student-athlete acknowledging that signing the contract may result in the loss of the student-athlete's eligibility to participate in the student-athlete's sport.

E. A student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, the parent or guardian of the student-athlete may void an agency contract that does not conform to this section. If the contract is voided, any consideration received from the athlete agent under the contract to induce entering into the contract is not required to be returned.

F. At the time an agency contract is executed, the athlete agent shall give the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, the parent or guardian of the student-athlete a copy in a record of the contract and the separate acknowledgement required by subsection D.

G. If a student-athlete is a minor, an agency contract shall be signed by the parent or guardian of the student-athlete and the notice required by subsection C shall be revised accordingly.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-527.

A. For purposes of this section, "communication or attempt to communicate" or any variation thereof means contacting or attempting to contact by an in-person meeting, a record, or any other method that conveys or attempts to convey a message.

B. Not later than 72 hours after entering into an agency contract or before the next scheduled athletic event in which the student-athlete may participate, whichever occurs first, the athlete agent shall give notice in a record of the existence of the contract to the athletic director of the educational institution at which the student-athlete is enrolled or at which the agent has reasonable grounds to believe the student-athlete intends to enroll.

C. Not later than 72 hours after entering into an agency contract or before the next scheduled athletic event in which the student-athlete may participate, whichever occurs first, the student-athlete shall inform the athletic director of the educational institution at which the student-athlete is enrolled that the student-athlete has entered into an agency contract and the name and contact information of the athlete agent.

D. If an athlete agent enters into an agency contract with a student-athlete and the student-athlete subsequently enrolls at an educational institution, the agent shall notify the athletic director of the institution of the existence of the contract not later than 72 hours after the agent knew or should have known the student-athlete enrolled.

E. If an athlete agent has a relationship with a student-athlete before the student-athlete enrolls in an educational institution and receives an athletic scholarship from the institution, the agent shall notify the institution of the relationship not later than 10 days after the enrollment if the agent knows or should have known of the enrollment and (i) the relationship was motivated in whole or in part by the intention of the agent to recruit or solicit the student-athlete to enter an agency contract in the future or (ii) the agent directly or indirectly recruited or solicited the student-athlete to enter an agency contract before the enrollment.

F. An athlete agent shall give notice in a record to the athletic director of any educational institution at which a student-athlete is enrolled before the agent communicates or attempts to communicate with (i) the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete to influence the student-athlete or parent or guardian to enter into an agency contract or (ii) another individual to have that individual influence the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, the parent or guardian of the student-athlete to enter into an agency contract.

G. If a communication or attempt to communicate with an athlete agent is initiated by a student-athlete or another individual on behalf of the student-athlete, the agent shall notify in a record the athletic director of any educational institution at which the student-athlete is enrolled. The notification shall be made not later than 10 days after the communication or attempt to communicate.

H. An educational institution that becomes aware of a violation of this chapter by an athlete agent shall notify the Director and any professional league or players association with which the institution is aware the agent is licensed or registered of the violation.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-528.

A. A student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, the parent or guardian of the student-athlete may cancel an agency contract by giving notice in a record of cancellation to the athlete agent not later than 14 days after the contract is signed.

B. A student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, the parent or guardian of the student-athlete may not waive the right to cancel an agency contract.

C. If a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete cancels an agency contract, the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, the parent or guardian of the student-athlete is not required to pay any consideration under the contract or return any consideration received from the athlete agent to influence the student-athlete to enter into the contract.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-529.

A. An athlete agent shall create and retain for five years records of the following:

1. The name and address of each student-athlete represented by the agent;

2. Each agency contract entered into by the agent; and

3. The direct costs incurred by the agent in the recruitment or solicitation of each student-athlete to enter into an agency contract.

B. Records described in subsection A shall be open to inspection by the Director during normal business hours.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-530.

An athlete agent may not intentionally:

1. Give a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete materially false or misleading information or make a materially false promise or representation with the intent to influence the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete to enter into an agency contract;

2. Furnish anything of value to a student-athlete or another individual, if to do so may result in loss of the student-athlete's eligibility to participate in the student-athlete's sport, unless (i) the agent notifies the athletic director of the educational institution at which the student-athlete is enrolled or at which the agent has reasonable grounds to believe the student-athlete intends to enroll, not later than 72 hours after giving the thing of value and (ii) the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete acknowledges to the agent in a record that receipt of the thing of value may result in loss of the student-athlete's eligibility to participate in the student-athlete's sport;

3. Initiate contact, directly or indirectly, with a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete to recruit or solicit the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete to enter an agency contract unless registered under this chapter;

4. Fail to create, retain, or permit inspection of the records required by § 54.1-537;

5. Fail to register when required by § 54.1-528;

6. Provide materially false or misleading information in an application for registration or renewal of registration;

7. Predate or postdate an agency contract;

8. Fail to notify a student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete before the student-athlete or, if the student-athlete is a minor, a parent or guardian of the student-athlete signs an agency contract for a particular sport that the signing may result in loss of the student-athlete's eligibility to participate in the student-athlete's sport;

9. Encourage another individual to do any of the acts described in subdivisions 1 through 8 on behalf of the agent; or

10. Encourage another individual to assist any other individual in doing any of the acts described in subdivisions 1 through 8 on behalf of the agent.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-531.

An athlete agent who violates § 54.1-538 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and in addition, the Director may suspend the agent's certificate of registration for no more than 12 months.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-532.

A. An educational institution or student-athlete may bring an action for damages against an athlete agent if the institution or student-athlete is adversely affected by an act or omission of the agent in violation of this chapter. An educational institution or student-athlete is adversely affected by an act or omission of the agent only if, because of the act or omission, the institution or an individual who was a student-athlete at the time of the act or omission and enrolled in the institution (i) is suspended or disqualified from participation in an interscholastic or intercollegiate sports event by or under the rules of a state or national federation or association that promotes or regulates interscholastic or intercollegiate sports or (ii) suffers financial damage.

B. A plaintiff that prevails in an action under this section may recover actual damages, punitive damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees. An athlete agent found liable under this section forfeits any right of payment for anything of benefit or value provided to the student-athlete and shall refund any consideration paid to the agent by or on behalf of the student-athlete.

C. A violation of this chapter also shall constitute a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.).

D. The Director may assess a civil penalty against an athlete agent not to exceed $50,000 for a violation of this chapter.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-533.

Consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact substantially similar laws.

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-534.

This chapter modifies, limits, or supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede § 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in § 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. § 7003(c).

2020, c. 481, § 54.1-535.