20-1-232. Student-athlete rights and protections — definitions. (1) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Montana Code 20-1-232

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Property: means real and personal property. See Montana Code 1-1-205
  • school: means an institution for the teaching of children that is established and maintained under the laws of the state of Montana at public expense. See Montana Code 20-6-501
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
  • University: means the university of Montana-Missoula. See Montana Code 20-1-101

(a)”Postsecondary institution” means a 2-year or 4-year public or private college or university located in the state.

(b)(i) “Student-athlete rights” means the rights of a student-athlete enrolled in a postsecondary institution to earn compensation for the use of the student-athlete’s name, image, or likeness and to contract with and retain professional representation of an athlete agent.

(ii)The term does not include a right to receive compensation from a postsecondary institution.

(2)Except as provided subsections (3) through (6), a postsecondary institution or an athletic association, conference, or organization with authority over intercollegiate sports may not:

(a)prohibit, prevent, or restrict a student-athlete from exercising the student-athlete’s rights;

(b)penalize or retaliate against a student-athlete for exercising the student-athlete’s rights;

(c)prohibit a student-athlete from participating in an intercollegiate sport for exercising the student-athlete’s rights; or

(d)subject to subsection (5)(a), impose an eligibility requirement on a scholarship or grant that requires a student-athlete to refrain from exercising the student-athlete’s rights.

(3)(a) A student-athlete may not enter into a contract that provides compensation to the student-athlete for the use of the student-athlete’s name, image, or likeness if terms of the contract conflict with the student-athlete’s team rules or with terms of a contract entered into between the student-athlete’s postsecondary institution and a third party, except the team rules or a contract entered into between the postsecondary institution and a third party may not prevent a student-athlete from earning compensation for the use of the student-athlete’s name, image, or likeness when not engaged in official team activities.

(b)A student-athlete who enters into a contract that provides compensation to the student-athlete for the use of the student-athlete’s name, image, or likeness shall disclose the contract to an official of the postsecondary institution if the student-athlete is a team member or, if the student-athlete is not a team member, at the time the student-athlete seeks to become a team member.

(c)If a postsecondary institution asserts that the terms of the contract conflict with the team rules or with terms of a contract entered into between the student-athlete’s postsecondary institution and a third party, the unit shall disclose the specific rules or terms asserted to be in conflict to the student-athlete or to the student-athlete’s professional representative or athlete agent if the student-athlete is represented.

(4)A postsecondary institution or an athletic association, conference, or organization with authority over intercollegiate sports may not provide to a prospective or current student-athlete compensation for use of the student-athlete’s name, image, or likeness.

(5)A postsecondary school may:

(a)include provisions in scholarship agreements allowing the postsecondary school to use the athlete’s name, image, and likeness;

(b)prohibit the use of an athlete’s name, image, and likeness on school property, at school functions, or in any advertising material distributed or placed on school property;

(c)serve as an agent for the athlete to manage any contract using an athlete’s name, image, and likeness; or

(d)do any combination of subsections (5)(a) through (5)(c).

(6)Nothing in this section prohibits a postsecondary institution from establishing or enforcing a conduct code that is applicable to all students enrolled at the unit.