18895.2. The following definitions govern the construction of this chapter:
(a) “Agent contract” means any contract or agreement pursuant to which a person authorizes or empowers an athlete agent to negotiate or solicit on behalf of the person with one or more professional sports teams or organizations for the employment of the person by one or more professional sports teams or organizations, or to negotiate or solicit on behalf of the person for the employment of the person as a professional athlete.
(b) (1) “Athlete agent” means any person who, directly or indirectly, recruits or solicits an athlete to enter into any agent contract, endorsement contract, financial services contract, or professional sports services contract, or for compensation procures, offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for any person with a professional sports team or organization or as a professional athlete.
(2) (A) “Athlete agent” does not include a person licensed as an attorney, dealer in securities, financial planner, insurance agent, real estate broker or sales agent, or tax consultant, or other professional person, when the professional person offers or provides the type of services customarily provided by that profession, except and solely to the extent that the professional person also recruits or solicits an athlete to enter into any agent contract, endorsement contract, or professional sports services contract, or for compensation procures, offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for any person with a professional sports team or organization or as a professional athlete.
(B) “Athlete agent” also does not include any person acting solely on behalf of a professional sports team or organization.
(C) “Athlete agent” also does not include a talent agency as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1700.4 of the Labor Code and licensed by the Labor Commissioner pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 1700) of Part 6 of Division 2 of the Labor Code, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph. “Athlete agent” includes a talent agency that (i) directly or indirectly recruits or solicits a student athlete to enter into an agent contract, endorsement contract, financial services contract, or professional sports services contract, or (ii) for compensation, procures, offers, promises, attempts, or negotiates to obtain employment for any person to perform on-field play with a professional sports team or organization.
(3) Sections 18896.6, 18897.6, and 18897.63 do not apply to an individual acting as an athlete agent solely for their spouse, child, foster child, ward, or grandchild.
(c) “Employment as a professional athlete” includes employment pursuant to an endorsement contract or a professional sports services contract.
(d) “Endorsement contract” means any contract or agreement pursuant to which a person is employed or receives remuneration for any value or utility that the person may have because of publicity, reputation, fame, or following obtained because of athletic ability or performance.
(e) “Financial services” means the making or execution of an investment or other financial decision, or counseling as to a financial decision.
(f) “Negotiate” includes any contact on behalf of any athlete with a professional sports team or organization or on behalf of any person with any other person who employs or potentially may employ the person as a professional athlete, regardless of whether the contact is made in person, in writing, electronically, through representatives or employees, or in any other manner. “Negotiate” also includes being present during any discussion of an endorsement contract or professional sports services contract with representatives of the professional sports team or organization or potential or actual employer.
(g) “Person” means any individual, company, corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, or their agents or employees.
(h) “Professional sports services contract” means any contract or agreement pursuant to which a person is employed or agrees to render services as a player on a professional sports team or organization or as a professional athlete.
(i) (1) “Student athlete” means any individual admitted to or enrolled as a student, in an elementary or secondary school, college, university, or other educational institution if the student participates, or has informed the institution of an intention to participate, as an athlete in a sports program where the sports program is engaged in competition with other educational institutions.
(2) “Student athlete” does not include any person who has entered into a valid agent contract, a valid endorsement contract, or a valid professional sports services contract, unless that contract is entered into in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 18897.73.
(3) “Student athlete” does not include any student of a college or university whose eligibility to participate in an intercollegiate sport has terminated, as determined by the governing body of the state or national association for the promotion and regulation of intercollegiate athletics of which the student’s college or university is a member.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 222, Sec. 2. (AB 1518) Effective January 1, 2020.)