93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB4993

 

Introduced 02/05/04, by Tom Cross, Angelo Saviano, Chapin Rose

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Athlete Agents Act. Requires agents for student athletes to register with the Department of Professional Regulation and establishes registration procedures, criteria, and requirements for these athlete agents. Provides that all information required by the Department of any applicant for registration, except financial information, is a public record. Authorizes the Department to issue a temporary registration while a registration application or renewal of registration is pending. Provides disciplinary grounds. Establishes requirements for agency contracts subject to the Act. Requires both the athlete agent and the student-athlete to promptly notify the appropriate educational institution after the contract is entered into. Provides an educational institution damaged by a violation of the Act with a civil remedy against the involved athlete agent and the student athlete. Establishes record-keeping requirements for athlete agents. Prohibits athlete agents from engaging in specified conduct, subject to criminal and administrative penalties. Includes other provisions.


LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4993 LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1     AN ACT concerning athlete agents.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Athlete Agents Act.
 
6     Section 2. Definitions. In this Act:
7         (1) "Agency contract" means an agreement in which a
8     student-athlete authorizes a person to negotiate or
9     solicit on behalf of the student-athlete a
10     professional-sports-services contract or an endorsement
11     contract.
12         (2) "Athlete agent" means an individual who enters into
13     an agency contract with a student-athlete or, directly or
14     indirectly, recruits or solicits a student-athlete to
15     enter into an agency contract. The term includes an
16     individual who represents to the public that the individual
17     is an athlete agent. The term does not include a spouse,
18     parent, sibling, grandparent, or guardian of the
19     student-athlete or an individual acting solely on behalf of
20     a professional sports team or professional sports
21     organization.
22         (3) "Athletic director" means an individual
23     responsible for administering the overall athletic program
24     of an educational institution or, if an educational
25     institution has separately administered athletic programs
26     for male students and female students, the athletic program
27     for males or the athletic program for females, as
28     appropriate.
29         (4) "Contact" means a communication, direct or
30     indirect, between an athlete agent and a student-athlete,
31     to recruit or solicit the student-athlete to enter into an
32     agency contract.

 

 

HB4993 - 2 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1         (4.5) "Department" means the Department of
2     Professional Regulation.
3         (4.6) "Director" means the Director of Professional
4     Regulation.
5         (5) "Endorsement contract" means an agreement under
6     which a student-athlete is employed or receives
7     consideration to use on behalf of the other party any value
8     that the student-athlete may have because of publicity,
9     reputation, following, or fame obtained because of
10     athletic ability or performance.
11         (6) "Intercollegiate sport" means a sport played at the
12     collegiate level for which eligibility requirements for
13     participation by a student-athlete are established by a
14     national association for the promotion or regulation of
15     collegiate athletics.
16         (7) "Person" means an individual, corporation,
17     business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited
18     liability company, association, joint venture, government;
19     governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality;
20     public corporation, or any other legal or commercial
21     entity.
22         (8) "Professional-sports-services contract" means an
23     agreement under which an individual is employed, or agrees
24     to render services, as a player on a professional sports
25     team, with a professional sports organization, or as a
26     professional athlete.
27         (9) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a
28     tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other
29     medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
30         (10) "Registration" means registration as an athlete
31     agent pursuant to this Act.
32         (11) "State" means a State of the United States, the
33     District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin
34     Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to
35     the jurisdiction of the United States.
36         (12) "Student-athlete" means an individual who engages

 

 

HB4993 - 3 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1     in, is eligible to engage in, or may be eligible in the
2     future to engage in, any intercollegiate sport. If an
3     individual is permanently ineligible to participate in a
4     particular intercollegiate sport, the individual is not a
5     student-athlete for purposes of that sport.
 
6     Section 2.1. Powers and duties of the Department. The
7 Department may exercise the following powers and duties subject
8 to the provisions of this Act:
9         (1) To prescribe forms of application for certificates
10     of registration.
11         (2) To pass upon the qualifications of applicants for
12     certificates of registration and issue certificates of
13     registration to those found to be fit and qualified.
14         (3) To conduct hearings on proceedings to revoke,
15     suspend, or otherwise discipline or to refuse to issue or
16     renew certificates of registration.
17         (4) To formulate rules when required for the
18     administration and enforcement of this Act.
 
19     Section 3. Service of process; subpoenas.
20     (a) By acting as an athlete agent in this State, a
21 nonresident individual appoints the Department as the
22 individual's agent for service of process in any civil action
23 in this State related to the individual's acting as an athlete
24 agent in this State.
25     (b) The Department may issue subpoenas for any material
26 that is relevant to the administration of this Act.
 
27     Section 4. Athlete agents; registration required; void
28 contracts.
29     (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), an
30 individual may not act as an athlete agent in this State
31 without holding a certificate of registration under Section 6
32 or 8.
33     (b) Before being issued a certificate of registration, an

 

 

HB4993 - 4 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1 individual may act as an athlete agent in this state for all
2 purposes except signing an agency contract, if:
3         (1) a student-athlete or another person acting on
4     behalf of the student-athlete initiates communication with
5     the individual; and
6         (2) within seven days after an initial act as an
7     athlete agent, the individual submits an application for
8     registration as an athlete agent in this State.
9     (c) An agency contract resulting from conduct in violation
10 of this Section is void and the athlete agent shall return any
11 consideration received under the contract.
 
12     Section 5. Registration as athlete agent; form;
13 requirements. An applicant for registration shall submit an
14 application for registration to the Department in a form
15 prescribed by the Department. An application filed under this
16 Section is a public record. The application must be in the name
17 of an individual and, except as otherwise provided in
18 subsection (b), signed or otherwise authenticated by the
19 applicant under penalty of perjury and state or contain:
20         (1) the name of the applicant and the address of the
21     applicant's principal place of business;
22         (2) the name of the applicant's business or employer,
23     if applicable;
24         (3) any business or occupation engaged in by the
25     applicant for the five years next preceding the date of
26     submission of the application;
27         (4) a description of the applicant's:
28             (A) formal training as an athlete agent;
29             (B) practical experience as an athlete agent; and
30             (C) educational background relating to the
31         applicant's activities as an athlete agent;
32         (5) the names and addresses of three individuals not
33     related to the applicant who are willing to serve as
34     references;
35         (6) the name, sport, and last known team for each

 

 

HB4993 - 5 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1     individual for whom the applicant acted as an athlete agent
2     during the five years next preceding the date of submission
3     of the application;
4         (7) the names and addresses of all persons who are:
5             (A) with respect to the athlete agent's business if
6         it is not a corporation, the partners, members,
7         officers, managers, associates, or profit-sharers of
8         the business; and
9             (B) with respect to a corporation employing the
10         athlete agent, the officers, directors, and any
11         shareholder of the corporation having an interest of
12         five percent or greater;
13         (8) whether the applicant or any person named pursuant
14     to paragraph (7) has been convicted of a crime that, if
15     committed in this State, would be a crime involving moral
16     turpitude or a felony, and identify the crime;
17         (9) whether there has been any administrative or
18     judicial determination that the applicant or any person
19     named pursuant to paragraph (7) has made a false,
20     misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent representation;
21         (10) any instance in which the conduct of the applicant
22     or any person named pursuant to paragraph (7) resulted in
23     the imposition of a sanction, suspension, or declaration of
24     ineligibility to participate in an interscholastic or
25     intercollegiate athletic event on a student-athlete or
26     educational institution;
27         (11) any sanction, suspension, or disciplinary action
28     taken against the applicant or any person named pursuant to
29     paragraph (7) arising out of occupational or professional
30     conduct; and
31         (12) whether there has been any denial of an
32     application for, suspension or revocation of, or refusal to
33     renew, the registration or licensure of the applicant or
34     any person named pursuant to paragraph (7) as an athlete
35     agent in any State.
 

 

 

HB4993 - 6 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1     Section 5.5. Public records.
2     (a) All information required by the Department of any
3 applicant for registration shall be a public record, except
4 financial information.
5     (b) If a registrant changes his or her name style, address,
6 or employment from that which appears on his or her current
7 registration, he or she shall notify the Department of the
8 change within 30 days after it occurs.
9     (c) All public records of the Department, when duly
10 certified by the Director, shall be received as prima facie
11 evidence in any State administrative or judicial proceedings.
 
12     Section 6. Certificate of registration; issuance or
13 denial; renewal.
14     (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), the
15 Department shall issue a certificate of registration to an
16 individual who complies with Section 5(a) or whose application
17 has been accepted under Section 5(b).
18     (b) The Department may refuse to issue a certificate of
19 registration if the Department determines that the applicant
20 has engaged in conduct that has a significant adverse effect on
21 the applicant's fitness to act as an athlete agent. In making
22 the determination, the Department may consider whether the
23 applicant has:
24         (1) been convicted of a crime that, if committed in
25     this State, would be a crime involving moral turpitude or a
26     felony;
27         (2) made a materially false, misleading, deceptive, or
28     fraudulent representation in the application or as an
29     athlete agent;
30         (3) engaged in conduct that would disqualify the
31     applicant from serving in a fiduciary capacity;
32         (4) engaged in conduct prohibited by Section 14;
33         (5) had a registration or licensure as an athlete agent
34     suspended, revoked, or denied or been refused renewal of
35     registration or licensure as an athlete agent in any State;

 

 

HB4993 - 7 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1         (6) engaged in conduct the consequence of which was
2     that a sanction, suspension, or declaration of
3     ineligibility to participate in an interscholastic or
4     intercollegiate athletic event was imposed on a
5     student-athlete or educational institution; or
6         (7) engaged in conduct that significantly adversely
7     reflects on the applicant's credibility, honesty, or
8     integrity.
9     (c) In making a determination under subsection (b), the
10 Department shall consider:
11         (1) how recently the conduct occurred;
12         (2) the nature of the conduct and the context in which
13     it occurred; and
14         (3) any other relevant conduct of the applicant.
15     (d) An athlete agent may apply to renew a registration by
16 submitting an application for renewal in a form prescribed by
17 the Department. An application filed under this Section is a
18 public record. The application for renewal must be signed by
19 the applicant under penalty of perjury and must contain current
20 information on all matters required in an original
21 registration.
22     (e) An individual who has submitted an application for
23 renewal of registration or licensure in another State, in lieu
24 of submitting an application for renewal in the form prescribed
25 pursuant to subsection (d), may file a copy of the application
26 for renewal and a valid certificate of registration or
27 licensure from the other State. The Department shall accept the
28 application for renewal from the other State as an application
29 for renewal in this State if the application to the other
30 State:
31         (1) was submitted in the other State within six months
32     next preceding the filing in this State and the applicant
33     certifies the information contained in the application for
34     renewal is current;
35         (2) contains information substantially similar to or
36     more comprehensive than that required in an application for

 

 

HB4993 - 8 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1     renewal submitted in this State; and
2         (3) was signed by the applicant under penalty of
3     perjury.
4     (f) A certificate of registration or a renewal of a
5 registration is valid for 2 years.
 
6     Section 7. Suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew
7 registration.
8     (a) The Department may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew
9 a registration for conduct that would have justified denial of
10 registration under Section 6(b).
11     (b) The Department may deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to
12 renew a certificate of registration or licensure only after
13 proper notice and an opportunity for a hearing. The Illinois
14 Administrative Procedure Act applies to this Act.
 
15     Section 8. Temporary registration.
16     (a) The Department may issue a temporary certificate of
17 registration while an application for registration or renewal
18 of registration is pending.
19     (b) A temporary certificate shall be issued by the
20 Department to an individual who holds a certificate,
21 registration, or license as an athlete agent in another State
22 and submits a copy of the certificate, registration, or license
23 in lieu of submitting an application in the form prescribed
24 pursuant to Section 5.
25     (c) A temporary certificate issued pursuant to subsection
26 (b) of this Section shall be valid for 30 days or until such
27 time as the Department receives an application in accordance
28 with Section 5.
29     (d) A temporary certificate shall be considered as issued
30 upon the Department's receipt of a copy of a certificate in
31 accordance with subsection (b) of this Section.
 
32     Section 8.5. Expiration of registration.
33     (a) Registrations shall expire at midnight on June 30 of

 

 

HB4993 - 9 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1 each odd-numbered year.
2     (b) Failure to renew a registration prior to its expiration
3 shall cause the registration to become nonrenewed and it shall
4 be unlawful thereafter for the registrant to engage, offer to
5 engage, or hold himself or herself out as engaging as a
6 registered athlete agent under the registration unless the
7 registration is restored or reissued as defined by rule.
 
8     Section 9. Fees.
9     (a) The initial application fee for a certificate shall be
10 fixed by the Department by rule.
11     (b) All other fees not set forth in this Act shall be fixed
12 by rule.
13     (c) If an applicant for initial registration applies for
14 licensure during the second half of the biennial period, he or
15 she shall be required to pay only one-half of the amount fixed
16 by the Department for initial application.
17     (d) Any change of a registration that requires the issuance
18 of a new registration shall be completed on a form required by
19 the Department and accompanied by a $10 handling fee.
20     (e) All fees and fines collected under this Act shall be
21 deposited into the General Professions Dedicated Fund.
 
22     Section 10. Required form of contract.
23     (a) An agency contract must be in a record, signed or
24 otherwise authenticated by the parties.
25     (b) An agency contract must state or contain:
26         (1) the amount and method of calculating the
27     consideration to be paid by the student-athlete for
28     services to be provided by the athlete agent under the
29     contract and any other consideration the athlete agent has
30     received or will receive from any other source for entering
31     into the contract or for providing the services;
32         (2) the name of any person not listed in the
33     application for registration or renewal of registration
34     who will be compensated because the student-athlete signed

 

 

HB4993 - 10 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1     the agency contract;
2         (3) a description of any expenses that the
3     student-athlete agrees to reimburse;
4         (4) a description of the services to be provided to the
5     student-athlete;
6         (5) the duration of the contract; and
7         (6) the date of execution.
8     (c) An agency contract must contain, in close proximity to
9 the signature of the student-athlete, a conspicuous notice in
10 boldface type in capital letters stating:
11
WARNING TO STUDENT-ATHLETE
12 IF YOU SIGN THIS CONTRACT:
13         (1) YOU MAY LOSE YOUR ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE AS A
14     STUDENT-ATHLETE IN YOUR SPORT;
15         (2) IF YOU HAVE AN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, WITHIN 72 HOURS
16     AFTER ENTERING INTO THIS CONTRACT OR BEFORE YOUR NEXT
17     SCHEDULED ATHLETIC EVENT, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, BOTH YOU
18     AND YOUR ATHLETE AGENT MUST NOTIFY YOUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR;
19     AND
20         (3) YOU MAY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT WITHIN 14 DAYS AFTER
21     SIGNING IT. CANCELLATION OF THIS CONTRACT MAY NOT REINSTATE
22     YOUR ELIGIBILITY.
23     (d) An agency contract that does not conform to this
24 Section is voidable by the student-athlete. If a
25 student-athlete voids an agency contract, the student-athlete
26 is not required to pay any consideration under the contract or
27 to return any consideration received from the athlete agent to
28 induce the student-athlete to enter into the contract.
29     (e) The athlete agent shall give a record of the signed or
30 otherwise authenticated agency contract to the student-athlete
31 at the time of execution.
 
32     Section 11. Notice to educational institution.
33     (a) Within 72 hours after entering into an agency contract
34 or before the next scheduled athletic event in which the
35 student-athlete may participate, whichever occurs first, the

 

 

HB4993 - 11 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1 athlete agent shall give notice in a record of the existence of
2 the contract to the athletic director of the educational
3 institution at which the student-athlete is enrolled or the
4 athlete agent has reasonable grounds to believe the
5 student-athlete intends to enroll.
6     (b) Within 72 hours after entering into an agency contract
7 or before the next athletic event in which the student-athlete
8 may participate, whichever occurs first, the student-athlete
9 shall inform the athletic director of the educational
10 institution at which the student-athlete is enrolled that he or
11 she has entered into an agency contract.
 
12     Section 12. Student-athlete's right to cancel.
13     (a) A student-athlete may cancel an agency contract by
14 giving notice of the cancellation to the athlete agent in a
15 record within 14 days after the contract is signed.
16     (b) A student-athlete may not waive the right to cancel an
17 agency contract.
18     (c) If a student-athlete cancels an agency contract, the
19 student-athlete is not required to pay any consideration under
20 the contract or to return any consideration received from the
21 athlete agent to induce the student-athlete to enter into the
22 contract.
 
23     Section 13. Required records.
24     (a) An athlete agent shall retain the following records for
25 a period of 5 years:
26         (1) the name and address of each individual represented
27     by the athlete agent;
28         (2) any agency contract entered into by the athlete
29     agent; and
30         (3) any direct costs incurred by the athlete agent in
31     the recruitment or solicitation of a student-athlete to
32     enter into an agency contract.
33     (b) Records required by subsection (a) to be retained are
34 open to inspection by the Department during normal business

 

 

HB4993 - 12 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1 hours.
 
2     Section 14. Prohibited conduct.
3     (a) An athlete agent, with the intent to induce a
4 student-athlete to enter into an agency contract, may not:
5         (1) give any materially false or misleading
6     information or make a materially false promise or
7     representation;
8         (2) furnish anything of value to a student-athlete
9     before the student-athlete enters into the agency
10     contract; or
11         (3) furnish anything of value to any individual other
12     than the student-athlete or another registered athlete
13     agent.
14     (b) An athlete agent may not intentionally:
15         (1) initiate contact with a student-athlete unless
16     registered under this Act;
17         (2) refuse or fail to retain or permit inspection of
18     the records required to be retained by Section 13;
19         (3) fail to register when required by Section 4;
20         (4) provide materially false or misleading information
21     in an application for registration or renewal of
22     registration;
23         (5) predate or postdate an agency contract; or
24         (6) fail to notify a student-athlete before the
25     student-athlete signs or otherwise authenticates an agency
26     contract for a particular sport that the signing or
27     authentication may make the student-athlete ineligible to
28     participate as a student-athlete in that sport.
 
29     Section 15. Criminal penalties. An athlete agent who
30 violates Section 14 is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
 
31     Section 16. Civil remedies.
32     (a) An educational institution has a right of action
33 against an athlete agent or a former student-athlete for

 

 

HB4993 - 13 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1 damages caused by a violation of this Act. In an action under
2 this Section, the court may award to the prevailing party costs
3 and reasonable attorney's fees.
4     (b) Damages of an educational institution under subsection
5 (a) include losses and expenses incurred because, as a result
6 of the conduct of an athlete agent or former student-athlete,
7 the educational institution was injured by a violation of this
8 Act or was penalized, disqualified, or suspended from
9 participation in athletics by a national association for the
10 promotion and regulation of athletics, by an athletic
11 conference, or by reasonable self-imposed disciplinary action
12 taken to mitigate sanctions likely to be imposed by such an
13 organization.
14     (c) A right of action under this Section does not accrue
15 until the educational institution discovers or by the exercise
16 of reasonable diligence would have discovered the violation by
17 the athlete agent or former student-athlete.
18     (d) Any liability of the athlete agent or the former
19 student-athlete under this Section is several and not joint.
20     (e) This Act does not restrict rights, remedies, or
21 defenses of any person under law or equity.
 
22     Section 17. Grounds for disciplinary action.
23     (a) The Department may refuse to issue or to renew or may
24 revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand, or take other
25 disciplinary action as the Department may deem proper,
26 including fines not to exceed $5,000 for each violation, with
27 regard to any registration for any one or combination of the
28 following causes:
29         (1) Violation of this Act or its rules.
30         (2) Conviction of any crime under the laws of any U.S.
31     jurisdiction that is a felony or that is a misdemeanor, an
32     essential element of which is dishonesty, or of any crime
33     that directly relates to the practice of the profession.
34         (3) Making any misrepresentation for the purpose of
35     obtaining a registration.

 

 

HB4993 - 14 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1         (4) Gross malpractice, prima facie evidence of which
2     may be a conviction or judgment of malpractice in any court
3     of competent jurisdiction.
4         (5) Aiding or assisting another person in violating any
5     provision of this Act or rules adopted pursuant to this
6     Act.
7         (6) Failing, within 60 days, to provide information in
8     response to a written request made by the Department that
9     was sent by certified or registered mail to the
10     registrant's last known address.
11         (7) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical, or
12     unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive,
13     defraud, or harm the public.
14         (8) Habitual or excessive use or addiction to alcohol,
15     narcotics, stimulants, or any other chemical agent or drug
16     that results in the inability to practice with reasonable
17     judgment or skill.
18         (9) Discipline by another U.S. jurisdiction or foreign
19     nation if at least one of the grounds for the discipline is
20     the same or substantially equivalent to those set forth in
21     this Section.
22         (10) Directly or indirectly giving to or receiving from
23     any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association
24     any fee, commission, rebate, or other form of compensation
25     for any professional services not actually or personally
26     rendered.
27         (11) A finding by the Department that the registrant,
28     after having his or her registration placed on probationary
29     status, has violated the terms of probation.
30         (12) Conviction by any court of competent
31     jurisdiction, either within or without this State, of any
32     violation of any law governing the practice of athlete
33     agents if the Department determines, after investigation,
34     that the person has not been sufficiently rehabilitated to
35     warrant the public trust.
36         (13) A finding that registration has been applied for

 

 

HB4993 - 15 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1     or obtained by fraudulent means.
2         (14) Practicing, attempting to practice, or
3     advertising under a name other than the full name as shown
4     on the registration or any other legally authorized name.
5         (15) Gross and willful overcharging for professional
6     services, including filing false statements for collection
7     of fees or moneys for which services are not rendered.
8         (16) Failure to file a return, to pay the tax, penalty,
9     or interest shown in a filed return, or to pay any final
10     assessment of tax, penalty, or interest, as required by any
11     tax Act administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue,
12     until such time as the requirements of that tax Act are
13     satisfied.
14         (17) Physical or mental disability, including
15     deterioration through the aging process, or loss of
16     abilities and skills that result in an inability to
17     practice the profession with reasonable judgment or skill.
18         (18) Material misstatement in furnishing information
19     to the Department or to any other State agency.
20         (19) Advertising in any manner that is false,
21     misleading, or deceptive.
22     (b) The Department shall deny any registration or renewal
23 under this Act to any person who has defaulted on an
24 educational loan guaranteed by the Illinois State Scholarship
25 Commission; however, the Department may issue a registration or
26 renewal if the person in default has established a satisfactory
27 repayment record as determined by the Illinois State
28 Scholarship Commission.
29     (c) Failure to continue to meet the requirements of this
30 Act shall be deemed a violation of this Act.
31     (d) The determination by a court that a registrant is
32 subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission as
33 provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
34 Code will result in an automatic suspension of his or her
35 registration. The suspension will end upon a finding by a court
36 that the registrant is no longer subject to involuntary

 

 

HB4993 - 16 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1 admission or judicial admission, the issuance of an order so
2 finding and discharging the patient, and the recommendation of
3 the Board to the Director that the registrant be allowed to
4 resume professional practice.
 
5     Section 18. Stenographer; record of proceedings. The
6 Department, at its expense, shall provide a stenographer to
7 take down the testimony and preserve a record of all
8 proceedings initiated pursuant to this Act, the rules for the
9 administration of this Act, or any other Act or rules relating
10 to this Act and proceedings for restoration of any registration
11 issued under this Act. The notice of hearing, complaint,
12 answer, and all other documents in the nature of pleadings and
13 written motions and responses filed in the proceedings, the
14 transcript of the testimony, all exhibits admitted into
15 evidence, the report of the hearing officer, the conclusions of
16 law, and recommendations to the Director, and the order shall
17 be the record of the proceedings. The Department shall furnish
18 a transcript of the record to any person interested in the
19 hearing upon payment of the fee required under Section 2105-115
20 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (Department of
21 Professional Regulation Law).
 
22     Section 19. Court orders. Any circuit court may, upon
23 application of the Department or its designee or of the
24 applicant or registrant against whom proceedings are pending,
25 enter an order requiring the attendance of witnesses and their
26 testimony and the production of documents, papers, files,
27 books, and records in connection with any hearing or
28 investigation. The court may compel obedience to its order by
29 proceedings for contempt.
 
30     Section 20. Subpoenas; administration of oaths. The
31 Department has power to subpoena and bring before it any person
32 in this State and to take testimony orally, by deposition, or
33 both or to subpoena documents, exhibits, or other materials

 

 

HB4993 - 17 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1 with the same fees and mileage and in the same manner as
2 prescribed by law in judicial proceedings in civil cases in
3 circuit courts of this State.
4     The Director has the power to administer oaths to witnesses
5 at any hearing that the Department is authorized by law to
6 conduct. The Director has the power to administer any other
7 oaths required or authorized to be administered by the
8 Department under this Act.
 
9     Section 21. Findings of fact; conclusions of law;
10 recommendations; order. Within 60 days of the Department's
11 receipt of the transcript of any hearing that is conducted
12 pursuant to this Act or the rules for its enforcement, any
13 other statute or rule requiring a hearing under this Act or the
14 rules for its enforcement, or any hearing related to
15 restoration of any registration issued pursuant to this Act,
16 the hearing officer shall submit his or her written findings
17 and recommendations to the Director.
18     A copy of the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and
19 recommendations submitted to the Director shall be served upon
20 the accused person, either personally or by registered or
21 certified mail. Within 20 days after service, the accused
22 person may present to the Department a written motion for a
23 rehearing, which shall state the particular grounds therefor.
24 If the accused person orders and pays for a transcript pursuant
25 to Section 18, the time elapsing thereafter and before the
26 transcript is ready for delivery to him or her shall not be
27 counted as part of the 20 days.
28     The Director shall issue an order based on the findings of
29 fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations.
 
30     Section 22. Temporary suspension. The Director may
31 temporarily suspend a person's registration without a hearing,
32 simultaneously with the institution of proceedings for a
33 hearing provided for in this Act, if the Director finds that
34 evidence in his or her possession indicates that continuation

 

 

HB4993 - 18 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1 in practice by that person would constitute an imminent danger
2 to the public. In the event that the Director temporarily
3 suspends a registration without a hearing, the Department shall
4 hold a hearing within 30 days after the suspension has
5 occurred.
 
6     Section 23. Administrative Review Law. All final
7 administrative decisions of the Department are subject to
8 judicial review pursuant to the Administrative Review Law and
9 its rules. The term "administrative decision" is defined as in
10 Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
 
11     Section 24. Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The
12 Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is hereby expressly
13 adopted and incorporated herein as if all of the provisions of
14 that Act were included in this Act, except that the provision
15 of subsection (d) of Section 10-65 of the Illinois
16 Administrative Procedure Act that provides that at hearings the
17 registrant has the right to show compliance with all lawful
18 requirements for retention, continuation, or renewal of the
19 registration is specifically excluded. For the purpose of this
20 Act the notice required under Section 10-25 of the
21 Administrative Procedure Act is deemed sufficient when mailed
22 to the last known address of a party.
 
23     Section 25. Certification of record; costs. The Department
24 shall not be required to certify any record to the court, to
25 file an answer in court, or to otherwise appear in any court in
26 a judicial review proceeding, unless there is filed in the
27 court, with the complaint, a receipt from the Department
28 acknowledging payment of the costs of furnishing and certifying
29 the record. Failure on the part of the plaintiff to file the
30 receipt in court is grounds for dismissal of the action.
 
31     Section 26. Returned checks; fines. A person who delivers a
32 check or other payment to the Department that is returned to

 

 

HB4993 - 19 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1 the Department unpaid by the financial institution upon which
2 it is drawn shall pay to the Department, in addition to the
3 amount already owed to the Department, a fine of $50. A fine
4 imposed under this Section is in addition to any other
5 discipline provided under this Act for unregistered practice or
6 practice on a nonrenewed registration. The Department shall
7 notify the person that fees and fines shall be paid to the
8 Department by certified check or money order within 30 calendar
9 days of the notification. If, after the expiration of 30 days
10 from the date of the notification, the person fails to submit
11 the necessary remittance, the Department shall automatically
12 terminate his or her registration or deny his or her
13 application without hearing. If, after termination or denial,
14 the person seeks a registration, he or she shall apply to the
15 Department for restoration or issuance of his or her
16 registration and pay all fees and fines due to the Department.
17 The Department may establish a fee for the processing of an
18 application for restoration of a registration to pay all
19 expenses of processing the application. The Director may waive
20 any fine due under this Section in any individual case where
21 the Director finds that the fine would be unreasonable or
22 unnecessarily burdensome.
 
23     Section 27. Hearing officer. The Director has the authority
24 to appoint any attorney duly registered to practice law in the
25 State of Illinois to serve as the hearing officer for any
26 action for refusal to issue or renew a registration, for
27 discipline of a registrant, for sanctions, for unregistered
28 practice, for restoration of a registration, or for any other
29 action for which findings of fact, conclusions of law, and
30 recommendations are required pursuant to Section 21 of this
31 Act. The hearing officer shall have full authority to conduct
32 the hearing and shall issue his or her findings of fact and
33 recommendations to the Director pursuant to Section 21 of this
34 Act.
 

 

 

HB4993 - 20 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1     Section 28. Enforcement; petition to court.
2     (a) If any person violates the provisions of this Act, the
3 Director, through the Attorney General or the State's Attorney
4 of any county in which a violation is alleged to exist, may, in
5 the name of the People of the State of Illinois, petition for
6 an order enjoining the violation or for an order enforcing
7 compliance with this Act. Upon the filing of a verified
8 petition in court, the court may issue a temporary restraining
9 order without notice or bond and may preliminarily and
10 permanently enjoin the violation. If it is established that the
11 person has violated or is violating the injunction, the court
12 may punish the offender for contempt of court.
13     (b) If any person practices as a registered athlete agent
14 or holds himself or herself out as a registrant without being
15 registered under the provisions of this Act, then any person
16 registered under this Act, any interested party, or any person
17 injured thereby, in addition to those officers identified in
18 subsection (a) of this Section, may petition for relief as
19 provided in subsection (a).
20     (c) Whenever the Department has reason to believe that a
21 person has violated the registration requirements of this Act
22 by practicing, offering to practice, attempting to practice, or
23 holding himself or herself out to practice as a registered
24 athlete agent without being registered under this Act, the
25 Department may issue a rule to show cause why an order to cease
26 and desist should not be entered against that person. The rule
27 shall clearly set forth the grounds relied upon by the
28 Department and shall provide a period of 7 days from the date
29 of the rule to file an answer to the satisfaction of the
30 Department. Failure to answer to the satisfaction of the
31 Department shall cause an order to cease and desist to be
32 issued immediately.
33     (d) Proceedings under this Section shall be in addition to,
34 and not in lieu of, all other remedies and penalties that may
35 be provided by law.
 

 

 

HB4993 - 21 - LRB093 17677 AMC 43353 b

1     Section 29. Unregistered practice; violation; civil
2 penalty.
3     (a) Any person who practices, offers to practice, attempts
4 to practice, or holds himself or herself out to practice
5 without being registered under this Act shall, in addition to
6 any other penalty provided by law, pay a civil penalty to the
7 Department in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each offense
8 as determined by the Department. The civil penalty shall be
9 assessed by the Department after a hearing is held in
10 accordance with the provisions set forth in this Act regarding
11 the provision of a hearing for the discipline of a registrant.
12     (b) The Department has the authority and power to
13 investigate any and all registered activity.
14     (c) A civil penalty imposed pursuant to this Section shall
15 be paid within 60 days after the effective date of the order
16 imposing the civil penalty. The order shall constitute a
17 judgment and may be filed and execution had thereon in the same
18 manner as any judgment from any court of record.
 
19     Section 30. Electronic Signatures in Global and National
20 Commerce Act. The provisions of this Act governing the legal
21 effect, validity, or enforceability of electronic records or
22 signatures, and of contracts formed or performed with the use
23 of such records or signatures conform to the requirements of
24 Section 102 of the Electronic Signatures in Global and National
25 Commerce Act, Pub. L. No. 106-229, 114 Stat. 464 (2000), and
26 supersede, modify, and limit the Electronic Signatures in
27 Global and National Commerce Act.
 
28     Section 31. Severability. If any provision of this Act or
29 its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid,
30 the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications
31 of this Act which can be given effect without the invalid
32 provision or application, and to this end the provisions of
33 this Act are severable.