Chapter 440

440.9915(2)(c) (c) For purposes of implementing par. (b), the department may do all of the following:

440.9915(2)(c)1. 1. 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 subchapter.

440.9915(2)(c)2. 2. Exchange information, including information related to actions taken against registered athlete agents or their registrations, with those organizations and agencies.

440.9915 History History: 2003 a. 150; 2019 a. 180; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

440.9915 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. SPS 151, Wis. adm. code.

440.992 440.992 Certificate of registration; issuance or denial; renewal.

440.992(1) (1) Except as otherwise provided in sub. (2), the department shall issue a certificate of registration to an individual who complies with s. 440.9915 (1) if the individual has paid the initial credential fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).

440.992(2) (2) The department may refuse to issue a certificate of registration to an applicant for registration under s. 440.9915 (1) if the department 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 department may consider whether the applicant has done any of the following:

440.992(2)(a) (a) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, been convicted of a crime that, if committed in this state, would be a felony.

440.992(2)(b) (b) Made a materially false, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent representation in the application or as an athlete agent.

440.992(2)(c) (c) Engaged in unprofessional conduct or conduct that would disqualify the applicant from serving in a fiduciary capacity.

440.992(2)(d) (d) Engaged in conduct prohibited by s. 440.996.

440.992(2)(e) (e) Had a registration as an athlete agent suspended, revoked, or denied or been refused renewal of registration as an athlete agent in any state.

440.992(2)(f) (f) Engaged in conduct resulting in imposition of a sanction, suspension, or declaration of ineligibility to participate in an interscholastic, intercollegiate, or professional sports event on a student athlete or a sanction on an educational institution.

440.992(2)(g) (g) Engaged in conduct that adversely reflects on the applicant’s credibility, honesty, or integrity.

440.992(3) (3) In making a determination under sub. (2), the department shall consider each of the following:

440.992(3)(a) (a) How recently the conduct occurred.

440.992(3)(b) (b) The nature of the conduct and the context in which it occurred.

440.992(3)(c) (c) Any other relevant conduct of the applicant.

440.992(4) (4) An athlete agent registered under sub. (1) may apply to renew the registration by submitting an application for renewal in a form prescribed by the department. 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. Applications submitted under this subsection shall be open to inspection at all reasonable hours authorized by representatives of the department.

440.992(5) (5) An athlete agent registered under s. 440.9915 (2) may renew the registration by proceeding under sub. (4) or, if the registration in the other state has been renewed, by submitting to the department copies of the application for renewal in the other state and the renewed registration from the other state. The department shall renew the registration if it determines that all of the following are true:

440.992(5)(a) (a) The registration requirements of the other state are substantially similar to or more restrictive than this subchapter.

440.992(5)(b) (b) The renewed registration has not been suspended or revoked and no action involving the athlete agent’s conduct as an athlete agent is pending against the athlete agent or his or her registration in any state.

440.992(6) (6) A certificate of registration or a renewal of a registration is valid for 2 years.

440.992 History History: 2003 a. 150; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20; 2019 a. 180.

440.992 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. SPS 151, Wis. adm. code.

440.9925 440.9925 Suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew registration.

440.9925(1) (1) The department may limit, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a registration of an individual issued a certificate of registration under s. 440.992 (1) for conduct that would justify refusal to issue a certificate of registration under s. 440.992 (2).

440.9925(1m) (1m) The department may suspend or revoke the registration of an individual issued a certificate of registration under s. 440.9915 (2) or renewed under s. 440.992 (5) for any reason for which the department could have refused to grant or renew registration or for conduct that would justify refusal to issue a certificate of registration under s. 440.992 (2).

440.9925(2) (2) The department may deny, limit, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a certificate of registration only after proper notice and an opportunity for a hearing.

440.9925 History History: 2003 a. 150; 2019 a. 180.

440.993 440.993 Temporary registration. The department may issue a temporary certificate of registration while an application for registration or renewal of registration is pending. The department shall promulgate rules establishing requirements and procedures for applying for and issuing temporary certificates of registration.

440.993 History History: 2003 a. 150.

440.9935 440.9935 Renewal. The renewal date for certificates of registration issued under this subchapter is specified in s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the renewal fee for such certificates is determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). Renewal applications shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the department.

440.9935 History History: 2003 a. 150; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20.

440.9935 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. SPS 151, Wis. adm. code.

440.994 440.994 Required form of contract.

440.994(1) (1) An agency contract must be in a record, signed by the parties.

440.994(2) (2) An agency contract must contain all of the following:

440.994(2)(ag) (ag) A statement that the athlete agent is registered as an athlete agent in this state and a list of all other states in which the athlete agent is registered as an athlete agent.

440.994(2)(ar) (ar) The amount and method of calculating the consideration to be paid by the student athlete for services to be provided by the athlete agent under the contract and any other consideration that the athlete agent has received or will receive from any other source for entering into the contract or for providing the services.

440.994(2)(b) (b) The name of any person not listed in the application for registration or renewal of registration who will be compensated because the student athlete signed the agency contract.

440.994(2)(c) (c) A description of any expenses that the student athlete agrees to reimburse.

440.994(2)(d) (d) A description of the services to be provided to the student athlete.

440.994(2)(e) (e) The duration of the contract.

440.994(2)(f) (f) The date of execution.

440.994(3) (3) Subject to sub. (6), an agency contract must contain a conspicuous notice in boldface type and, in substantially the same form, the following:

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 YOU HAVE AN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, WITHIN 72 HOURS AFTER SIGNING THIS CONTRACT OR BEFORE THE NEXT SCHEDULED ATHLETIC EVENT IN WHICH YOU MAY 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 AFTER SIGNING IT. CANCELLATION OF THIS CONTRACT MAY NOT REINSTATE YOUR ELIGIBILITY AS A STUDENT ATHLETE IN YOUR SPORT.

440.994(3m) (3m) An agency contract must 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.

440.994(4) (4) 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 influence entering into the contract is not required to be returned.

440.994(5) (5) 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 signed agency contract and the separate acknowledgement required under sub. (3m).

440.994(6) (6) If a student athlete is a minor, an agency contract must be signed by the parent or guardian of the minor and the notice required by sub. (3) must be revised accordingly.

440.994 History History: 2003 a. 150, 326; 2019 a. 180.

440.9945 440.9945 Notice to educational institution.

440.9945(1g) (1g) In this section, “communicating or attempting to communicate” 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.

440.9945(1r) (1r) 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 the athlete agent has reasonable grounds to believe the student athlete intends to enroll.

440.9945(2) (2) 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 he or she has entered into an agency contract and the name and contact information of the athlete agent.

440.9945(3) (3) If an athlete agent enters into an agency contract with a student athlete and the student athlete subsequently enrolls at an educational institution, the athlete agent shall notify the athletic director of the educational institution of the existence of the contract not later than 72 hours after the athlete agent knew or should have known the student athlete enrolled.

440.9945(4) (4) 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 educational institution, the athlete agent shall notify the educational institution of the relationship not later than 10 days after the enrollment if the athlete agent knows or should have known of the enrollment and any of the following is true:

440.9945(4)(a) (a) The relationship was motivated in whole or part by the intention of the athlete agent to recruit or solicit the student athlete for a future agency contract.

440.9945(4)(b) (b) The athlete agent directly or indirectly recruited or solicited the student athlete for the purpose of executing an agency contract before the enrollment.

440.9945(5) (5) 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 athlete agent communicates or attempts to communicate with any of the following:

440.9945(5)(a) (a) 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.

440.9945(5)(b) (b) Any individual not identified in par. (a) 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.

440.9945(6) (6) 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 athlete agent shall notify in a record the athletic director of any educational institution at which the student athlete is enrolled. The notification must be made not later than 10 days after the communication or attempt.

440.9945(7) (7) A notice under subs. (1r) to (6) is exempt from disclosure under s. 19.35 (1).

440.9945(8) (8) An educational institution that becomes aware of a violation of this subchapter by an athlete agent shall notify the department and any professional league or players association with which the educational institution is aware the athlete agent is licensed or registered of the violation.

440.9945 History History: 2003 a. 150; 2019 a. 180.

440.995 440.995 Student athlete’s right to cancel.

440.995(1) (1) 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 the cancellation to the athlete agent not later than 14 days after the contract is signed.

440.995(2) (2) 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.

440.995(3) (3) If a student athlete, parent, or guardian cancels an agency contract, the student athlete, parent, or guardian is not required to pay any consideration under the contract or to return any consideration received from the athlete agent to influence the student athlete to enter into the contract.

440.995 History History: 2003 a. 150; 2019 a. 180.

440.9955 440.9955 Required records.

440.9955(1) (1) An athlete agent shall create and retain for 5 years all of the following records:

440.9955(1)(a) (a) The name and address of each individual represented by the athlete agent.

440.9955(1)(b) (b) Each agency contract entered into by the athlete agent.

440.9955(1)(c) (c) The direct costs incurred by the athlete agent in the recruitment or solicitation of each student athlete.

440.9955(2) (2) Records described in sub. (1) are open to inspection by the department during normal business hours. Upon demand, an athlete agent shall provide a copy of such a record to the department.

440.9955 History History: 2003 a. 150; 2019 a. 180.

440.996 440.996 Prohibited conduct.

440.996(1) (1) An athlete agent may not intentionally do any of the following or encourage another individual to do or assist another individual in doing any of the following on behalf of the athlete agent:

440.996(1)(a) (a) 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, parent, or guardian to enter into an agency contract.

440.996(1)(b) (b) Furnish a thing of value to a student athlete or another individual, if to do so may result in the loss of the student athlete’s eligibility to participate in the student athlete’s sport, unless both of the following apply:

440.996(1)(b)1. 1. The athlete agent notifies the athletic director of the educational institution at which the student athlete is enrolled or at which the athlete agent has reasonable grounds to believe the student athlete intends to enroll, not later than 72 hours after furnishing the thing of value.