Bill > HB1769

This bill, known as "The Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act," establishes new legal protections for student athletes participating in college sports by creating a criminal offense of student athlete harassment. This offense includes intentionally communicating threats related to a student athlete's performance in an intercollegiate sport, or engaging in sports-related bullying or cyber-bullying, which is defined as aggressive and unwanted behavior through electronic means intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the athlete and cause emotional distress. A first offense is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, while subsequent offenses are elevated to a Class E felony. Importantly, the bill grants student athletes who are victims of this harassment a private right of action, allowing them to sue individuals convicted of the offense and potentially recover significant damages, including statutory damages of at least $75,000 per violation, actual damages, punitive damages, and legal costs. The act also includes provisions to protect electronic communications service providers from liability when acting in the normal course of business, while still requiring them to comply with warrants or court orders for information related to investigations.