A bill approved by the Assembly Public...

A bill approved by the Assembly Public Safety Committee would render “black market” college recruiting practices a criminal offense.

The bill, AB2753, was introduced by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, D-San Francisco, and was sent to the Ways and Means Committee on a 4-0 vote. It aims to prevent recruiters for collegiate athletic programs from offering such enticements as free airplane rides, cash and cars as inducements to high school stars.

“Throughout my athletic career, I and many of my colleagues have been approached with various offers, while existing regulations prohibit such inducements,” testified Reggie Theus, Sacramento King guard. “Too often, this jeopardizes student eligibility.”

The bill would impose a civil fine of between $1,000 and $10,000 for giving anything of value to a student athlete, prospective athlete or immediate member of the athlete’s family. Taking the gift also would be a crime, punishable by a $1,000 civil fine.