GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

H                                                                                                                                                   D

HOUSE BILL DRH40417-MM-87B   (03/21)

Short Title:      UNC Institutions/Conference Boycotts.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Bert Jones, Millis, Brody, and Collins (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to direct the University of North Carolina to respond to a boycott of the state by a conference of an intercollegiate athletic association.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Part 3 of Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 116‑40.13.  Participation in conferences of intercollegiate athletic associations.

(a) If a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina participates in a conference of an intercollegiate athletic association, and the conference enacts a boycott of the State of North Carolina, then the constituent institution is prohibited from extending any grant of media rights to the conference beyond the period that is in force as of the date of enactment of the conference's boycott. This prohibition against extending any grant of media rights shall remain in effect for at least five years after the termination of the boycott by the conference.

(b) Any constituent institution of The University of North Carolina that has assigned its media rights to any conference within an intercollegiate athletic association shall segregate all revenue received as a result of that membership and place the funds in escrow until the amount maintained in escrow is at least the amount of any penalty imposed upon the constituent institution for withdrawal from that conference. The funds shall be considered to be State funds, may not be expended for any purpose without an appropriation by the General Assembly, and shall be used to pay any penalty imposed upon the constituent institution for withdrawing from the conference, or such other use of the funds as directed by the General Assembly.

(c) If a conference within an intercollegiate athletic association enacts a boycott of the State of North Carolina, any constituent institution of The University of North Carolina that is a member of that intercollegiate athletic conference shall immediately provide written notice to the conference that the constituent institution intends to withdraw from the conference no later than when the assignment of its media rights expire, unless the conference immediately ends the boycott.

(d) The General Assembly has the final authority regarding the membership status of any constituent institution of The University of North Carolina in any intercollegiate athletic association or conference."

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.