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Athlete Agent Reform Act Of 2011 Almost Arkansas Law

The State of Arkansas yet another step closer to having a stricter athlete agent law. The Athlete Agent Reform Act Of 2011 by Rep. David J. Sanders has now passed through the House of Representatives by a vote of 89-0 and last Thursday, the Senate approved it by a 28-0 margin.  It will now go to the governor of Arkansas for final approval; it is very unlikely that it will be vetoed.  Arkansas’ Attorney General and the University of Arkansas Athletic Director have already thrown their support behind passage of the Act.

Senator Jeremy Hutchinson presented The Athlete Agent Reform Act of 2011 on the Senate floor.  While there was no debate as to the bill’s merits, Hutchinson said the following: “It appears that when sports agents unlawfully give money to student athletes the student athlete gets punished, the university gets punished, the fans … across the country get punished, yet the agent who actually violated the law gets off with very little, a misdemeanor.”  Arkansas seems committed to change that, at least within its own borders.  As I have stated numerous times, though, the key element is enforcing the Act once it becomes law.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

One reply on “Athlete Agent Reform Act Of 2011 Almost Arkansas Law”

This act is quite interesting. On one hand, it’s great that these “athlete-agents” who break the rules receive punishment for their actions, but like you said Darren, how strictly and equally will it be enforced is the big question.

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