9 Legislative Authority and Process

[9.02 through 9.1 unchanged.]

9.2 Amendment Processes.

[9.2.1 unchanged.]

9.2.2 Division I Legislative Processes.

[9.2.2.1 unchanged.]

9.2.2.2 Committee Authority Processes.

9.2.2.2.1 Committees With Authority to Introduce and Consider Proposals. The committees listed below may introduce and consider legislative proposals (pursuant to the procedures set forth in this section and in the Division I Cabinet’s policies and procedures) in the specified areas, subject to review by the Cabinet.

(a) Division I Sports Oversight Committees. The sports oversight committees may introduce and consider legislative proposals in the following bylaws, subject to review by the Cabinet.

(1) Sportsmanship and other ethical behaviors;

(2) Conduct of athletics personnel (Bylaw 11);

(3) Recruiting (Bylaw 13);

(4) Playing and practice seasons (Bylaw 17); and

(5) Processes and procedures related to the administration of championships (Bylaw 31) or postseason (Bylaw 18.7 for football).

(b) Academics and Eligibility Committee. The Academics and Eligibility Committee may introduce and consider legislative proposals in the following bylaws, subject to Division I Cabinet review:

(1) Athletics Eligibility (Bylaw 12) (excluding rules tied to the House settlement);

(2) Academic Eligibility (Bylaw 14); and

(3) Awards, Expenses and Benefits (Bylaw 16) (excluding rules tied to the House settlement).

(c) Membership Committee. The Membership Committee may introduce and approve legislative proposals in Bylaw 20 (excluding division dominant provisions, common provisions, membership provisions and provisions related to FBS or FCS requirements), subject to Division I Cabinet review. For common provisions, membership provisions and FBS and FCS specific provisions, the Membership Committee has the authority to introduce proposals.

9.2.2.2.2 Standard Legislative Cycle. A proposed amendment introduced and considered by an authorized committee is subject to review by the Division I Cabinet during its quarterly meetings (e.g., October, January, April and June). The standard legislative cycle includes the following elements:

(a) Introduction Deadline. For consideration by the Cabinet during the specified meeting, a committee must introduce a proposal by 60 days before the applicable Cabinet meeting.

(b) Publication. Proposals are made available for review by seven days after the introduction deadline for the applicable cycle.

(c) Comment Period. Proposals are available for review and comments at the point they are published and will remain available for review and comments until final action is taken.

(d) Committee Review/Action. A committee may take action on the proposal at any time during the legislative cycle before the applicable Cabinet meeting. Actions that may be taken by a committee are detailed in the Cabinet’s policies and procedures.

(e) Notice of Action. Action taken by a committee will be included in the history section of the proposal and in an announcement to the membership.

(f) Comment Period Before Cabinet Review. A proposal approved by a committee remains in the comment period until the Cabinet has an opportunity to review it during the applicable meeting.

(g) Cabinet Review. During the applicable meeting, a proposal approved by a committee (and any feedback and/or suggested amendments) is subject to Cabinet review. The process for the Cabinet’s review is detailed in the Cabinet’s policies and procedures.

(h) Finality of Action. A proposal approved by a committee in the Standard Legislative Cycle shall be considered final at the conclusion of the applicable Cabinet meeting, subject to review and possible action by the Cabinet. A proposal amended and adopted by the cabinet shall be considered final at the conclusion of the cabinet meeting during which it is adopted. The Board of Directors, during any meeting, may review and take emergency action related to legislation approved or defeated by a committee or the cabinet. The concept of a defeated proposal is not subject to a waiting period to be reintroduced into the legislative process.

(i) Rescission Process. A proposal adopted with less than a 75 percent majority vote of the cabinet members present and voting shall be subject to a 30-day rescission period. For purposes of the rescission process, a proposal approved by a committee for which the cabinet takes no action is considered to be unanimously adopted by the cabinet.

(1) Notification to Membership. Notification of the adoption of legislation shall be provided to the membership within seven days of the date of the cabinet meeting when the adoption becomes final.

(2) Submission of Rescission Requests. A rescission request may be submitted by an active member institution with voting privileges. A request must be received in the national office not later than 5 p.m. Eastern time within 30 days of the date of the cabinet meeting on when the adoption becomes final. A request must be approved by the institution's chancellor or president. The institution's chancellor or president or a designated representative may submit the rescission request to the national office.

(3) Threshold for Rescission. An amendment shall be rescinded upon submission of rescission requests from at least two-thirds of all active Division I institutions. An amendment that pertains only to football shall be rescinded in the applicable subdivision upon submission of rescission requests from at least two-thirds of all active Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Subdivision institutions.

9.2.2.2.3 Accelerated Legislative Process. If an authorized committee determines that consideration of a proposal in the Standard Legislative Process would cause a disruption in the efficient administration of the impacted activity or function (based on the required delay to use the standard process), it may introduce and approve a proposal in the Accelerated Legislative Process during any meeting. Introduction and approval of a proposal in the Accelerated Legislative Process requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of the committee members present and voting. The Accelerated Legislative Process includes the following elements:

(a) Publication. Proposals are drafted as they are introduced and approved, and made available for review, by five business days after the introduction and approval. An announcement is posted when a proposal is available for review.

(b) Accelerated Cabinet Review. Proposals that are approved by a committee in the Accelerated Legislative Process are subject to accelerated review by the cabinet. Proposals will be reviewed by the cabinet up to two times per month. Proposals introduced and approved by a committee in the first 15 days of a month are grouped together for accelerated cabinet review and proposals introduced and approved in the second half of a month (16th day through the end of the month) are grouped together for accelerated cabinet review.

(1) Proposals approved by a committee in the specified time period will be presented to cabinet members electronically by five business days after the close of the applicable period. The cabinet will determine if the proposal should be adopted immediately (no cabinet action required) or if it should be discussed by the cabinet during its next meeting.

(2) Cabinet members have three business days to review. Unless at least 25% of cabinet members request to discuss the proposal, it is considered adopted and final at the end of the three-day period. A proposal adopted in this manner is not subject to the rescission process.

(3) Proposals in this process that are approved by a Football Oversight Committee will be reviewed by only the cabinet members that represent the applicable subdivision (FBS or FCS). For FCS, if at least one of the three FCS representatives requests that the cabinet members discuss the proposal, it will be added to the next cabinet meeting agenda. For FBS, if at least three of the 10 FBS representatives request that the cabinet members discuss the proposal, it will be added to the next cabinet meeting agenda.

(c) Cabinet Review Requested. For a proposal for which review is requested, the Cabinet will review the proposal and any feedback and/or suggested amendments. Actions that may be taken by a committee are detailed in the Cabinet’s policies and procedures.

(d) Finality of Action. A proposal subject to review during a cabinet meeting that is adopted or defeated by the cabinet shall be considered final at the conclusion of the applicable cabinet meeting.  The Board of Directors, during any meeting, may review and take emergency action related to legislation approved or defeated by a committee or the cabinet. The concept of a defeated proposal is not subject to a waiting period to be reintroduced into the legislative process.

(e) Rescission Process. A proposal subject to review during a cabinet meeting that is adopted with less than a 75 percent majority vote of the Cabinet members present and voting shall be subject to a 10-day rescission period. For purposes of the rescission process, a proposal approved by an oversight committee for which the cabinet takes no action is considered to be unanimously adopted by the Cabinet.

(1) Notification to Membership. Notification of the adoption of legislation shall be provided to the membership within three days of the date of the cabinet meeting on which the adoption becomes final.

(2) Submission of Rescission Requests. A rescission request may be submitted by an active member institution with voting privileges. A request must be received in the national office not later than 5 p.m. Eastern time within 10 days of the date of the cabinet meeting on which the adoption becomes final. A request must be approved by the institution's chancellor or president. The institution's chancellor or president or a designated representative may submit the rescission request to the national office.

(3) Threshold for Rescission. An amendment shall be rescinded upon submission of rescission requests from at least two-thirds of all active Division I institutions. An amendment that pertains only to football shall be rescinded in the applicable subdivision upon submission of rescission requests from at least two-thirds of all active Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Subdivision institutions, respectively.

9.2.2.3 Cabinet Authority Processes.

9.2.2.3.1 Committees With Authority to Introduce Proposals. The Division I sports oversight committees and the Division I Membership Committee may introduce legislative proposals in areas of legislation that are outside of their authority to introduce and approve proposals. The Division I Student-Athlete Advocacy Committee may introduce proposals in the areas of student-athlete governance and representation, and student-athlete core guarantees as detailed in the Cabinet’s policies and procedures.

9.2.2.3.2 Standard Legislative Cycle. A proposed amendment introduced by the Cabinet or an authorized committee is reviewed by the Division I Cabinet during its quarterly meetings (e.g., October, January, April and June). The standard legislative cycle includes the following elements:

(a) Introduction Deadline. An authorized committee may introduce a legislative proposal at least 60 days before the October, January, April or June cabinet meetings. The Cabinet may introduce a legislative proposal during any meeting for consideration during the next specified legislative meeting.

(b) Publication. Proposals are drafted as they are introduced and made available for review by seven days after the introduction deadline for the applicable cycle. 

(c) Comment Period. Period. Proposals are made available for review and comments at the point they are published and remain available for review and comments until final action is taken.

(d) Committee Review. For proposals introduced by an authorized committee, the committee may make modifications at any point after the proposal is published and before the Cabinet meeting that ends the applicable legislative cycle.

(e) Publication of Modifications/Feedback. Actions taken by committees and recommendations for changes are included in the history sections of the proposals and in a general announcement to the membership.

(f) Cabinet Consideration. During the applicable meeting, the Cabinet considers proposals introduced by authorized committees or the Cabinet. The process for the Cabinet’s consideration is detailed in the Cabinet’s policies and procedures.

(g) Finality of Action. A proposal adopted by the Cabinet shall be considered final at the conclusion of the cabinet meeting during which it is adopted. The Board of Directors, during any meeting, may review and take emergency action related to legislation adopted or defeated by the Cabinet. The concept of a defeated proposal is not subject to a waiting period to be reintroduced into the legislative process.

(h) Student-Athlete Reconsideration Process. If the Cabinet defeats a proposal that was introduced by Division I Student-Athlete Advocacy Committee, the proposal is subject to a student-athlete reconsideration period. During a 14-day period, institutional SAAC presidents from active member institutions with voting privileges may provide their positions to either support or oppose the adoption of the proposal. Each institution may only provide one vote from one individual designated as its institutional SAAC president. If at least two-thirds of all active Division I institutional SAAC presidents who are eligible to vote support adoption, the Cabinet will reconsider its action. The Cabinet may reverse or uphold its previous action. The Division I Board of Directors may override any action taken.

(i) Rescission Process. A proposal adopted with less than a 75 percent majority vote of the Cabinet members present and voting is subject to a 30-day rescission period.

(1) Notification to Membership. Notification of the adoption of legislation shall be provided to the membership within seven days of the date of the Cabinet meeting on which the adoption becomes final.

(2) Submission of Rescission Requests. A rescission request may be submitted by an active member institution with voting privileges. A request must be received in the national office not later than 5 p.m. Eastern time within 30 days of the date of the Cabinet meeting on which the adoption becomes final. A request must be approved by the institution's chancellor or president. The institution's chancellor or president or a designated representative may submit the rescission request to the national office.

(3) Threshold for Rescission. An amendment shall be rescinded upon submission of rescission requests from at least two-thirds of all active Division I institutions. An amendment that pertains only to football shall be rescinded in the applicable subdivision upon submission of rescission requests from at least two-thirds of all active Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Subdivision institutions, respectively.

9.2.2.3.3 Accelerated Legislative Process. If an authorized committee or the Cabinet or Board of Directors determines that consideration of a proposal in the standard legislative process would cause a disruption in the efficient administration of the impacted activity or function, it may introduce a proposal in the accelerated legislative process during any meeting. Introduction of a proposal in the accelerated process by an authorized committee other than the Cabinet or Board of Directors requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of the committee members present and voting. The Cabinet or Board of Directors may introduce a proposal into the accelerated legislative process during any meeting by a simple majority vote. The accelerated legislative process includes the following elements:

(a) Publication. Proposals are drafted as they are introduced and made available for review by five business days after the introduction. An announcement is posted when a proposal is available for review.

(b) Accelerated Cabinet Review. Proposals that are introduced in the accelerated legislative process are subject to accelerated review by the Cabinet. Proposals will be reviewed by the Cabinet up to two times per month. Proposals introduced in the first 15 days of a month will be grouped together for accelerated Cabinet review and proposals introduced and approved in the second half of a month (16th day through the end of the month) will be grouped together for accelerated Cabinet review.

(1) Proposals introduced by a committee in the specified time period will be presented to Cabinet members electronically for a vote during a period of three business days. The Cabinet may adopt the proposal (two-thirds majority required) or recommend the Cabinet discuss the proposal during its next meeting. If a proposal is requested to be discussed during the next Cabinet meeting, it will be added to the meeting agenda and will be subject to the options detailed in the Cabinet’s policies and procedures. Proposals in this process that are introduced by a Football Oversight Committee and applicable only to football will be reviewed by only the Cabinet members that represent the applicable subdivision (FBS or FCS). 

(c) Finality of Action. A proposal that is adopted or defeated by the Cabinet shall be considered final at the conclusion of the applicable Cabinet meeting. The Board of Directors, during any meeting, may review and take emergency action related to legislation adopted or defeated by the Cabinet. The concept of a defeated proposal is not subject to a waiting period to be reintroduced into the legislative process.

(d) Rescission Process. A proposal adopted with less than a 75 percent majority vote of the Cabinet members present and voting shall be subject to a 10-day rescission period.

(1) Notification to Membership. Notification of the adoption of legislation shall be provided to the membership within three days of the date of the Cabinet meeting on which the adoption becomes final.

(2) Submission of Rescission Requests. A rescission request may be submitted by an active member institution with voting privileges. A request must be received in the national office not later than 5 p.m. Eastern time within 10 days of the date of the Cabinet meeting on which the adoption becomes final. A request must be approved by the institution's chancellor or president. The institution's chancellor or president or a designated representative may submit the rescission request to the national office.

(3) Threshold for Rescission.  An amendment shall be rescinded upon submission of rescission requests from at least two-thirds of all active Division I institutions. An amendment that pertains only to football shall be rescinded in the applicable subdivision upon submission of rescission requests from at least two-thirds of all active Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Subdivision institutions, respectively.

9.2.2.4 Emergency Legislation. The Board of Directors or the Cabinet may adopt emergency legislation during any meeting. A proposal may be considered as emergency legislation in circumstances in which significant values are at stake and the use of the regular legislative process is likely to cause significant harm or hardship to the Association or the Division I membership because of a delay in considering the proposal in the standard legislative cycle or accelerated legislative process. Adoption of emergency legislation requires two separate votes of at least an 80% majority of members of the applicable entity present and voting. The first vote is to determine whether the proposal meets the definition of emergency legislation and the second vote is on the merits of the proposal. A proposal adopted as emergency legislation shall be considered final at the conclusion of the meeting during which it is adopted. The Board of Directors, during any meeting, may review and take action related to legislation adopted or defeated by the Cabinet. A proposal adopted as emergency legislation is not subject to a rescission process.

9.2.2.5 Recording and Reporting Legislative Votes. A legislative vote taken by a committee with legislative authority shall be recorded and reported to the membership. The report shall include a record of each committee member's vote.

[9.2.3 through 9.2.10 unchanged.]

[9.3 unchanged.]

[Remove recruiting calendar formulas from the legislation. Sports oversight committees to have authority to approve changes as a matter of policy.]

21 Governance Structure and Committees

[21.02 through 21.3 unchanged.]

21.4 Membership Committee.

21.4.1 Composition. The Membership Committee shall be composed of 10 11 members, including one from each of the conferences named in Bylaw 21.2.1-(a); one from among the conferences named in Bylaw 21.2.1-(b); two from among the conferences named in Bylaw 21.2.1-(c); two from among the conferences named in Bylaw 21.2.1-(d); and one two members of the Student-Athlete Advocacy Committee.

[21.4.2 through 21.4.3 unchanged.]

[21.5 unchanged.]

21.6 Sports Oversight Committees. Each oversight committee shall report to the Cabinet and shall maintain oversight of the applicable Division I championship sport.

[21.6.1 through 21.6.4 unchanged.]

21.6.5 Field Hockey Oversight Committee. The Field Hockey Oversight Committee shall include eight nine voting members and four nonvoting members. The voting members shall include one member from each of the conferences named in Bylaw 21.2.1-(a) that sponsors the sport; one member from each of the three highest ranked other conferences based on field hockey success; two at-large members from the remaining conferences that sponsor the sport; and one two student-athletes. Field hockey success is defined as total conference appearances plus total conference wins in the previous five NCAA championships. The nonvoting members shall include a faculty athletics representative, a coaches association representative, an officials coordinator and a secretary-rules editor.

[21.6.6 through 21.6.8 unchanged.]

21.6.9 Men's Ice Hockey Oversight Committee. The Men's Ice Hockey Oversight Committee shall include seven eight voting members and four nonvoting members. The voting members shall include one member from each of the conferences named in Bylaw 21.2.1-(a) that sponsors the sport; one member from each of the three highest ranked other conferences based on ice hockey success; two at-large members from the remaining conferences that sponsor the sport; and one two student-athletes. Ice hockey success is defined as total conference appearances plus total conference wins in the previous five NCAA championships. The nonvoting members shall include a faculty athletics representative, a coaches association representative, an officials coordinator and a secretary-rules editor.

[21.6.9.1 unchanged.]

21.6.10 Men's Lacrosse Oversight Committee. The Men's Lacrosse Oversight Committee shall include eight nine voting members and four nonvoting members. The voting members shall include one member from each of the conferences named in Bylaw 21.2.1-(a) that sponsors the sport; one member from each of the three highest ranked other conferences based on lacrosse success; two at-large members from the remaining conferences that sponsor the sport; and one two student-athletes. Lacrosse success is defined as total conference appearances plus total conference wins in the previous five NCAA championships. The nonvoting members shall include a faculty athletics representative, a Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association representative, an officials coordinator and a secretary-rules editor.

[21.6.11 unchanged.]

21.6.12 Women's Rowing Oversight Committee. The Women's Rowing Oversight Committee shall include 10 11 voting members and two nonvoting members. The voting members shall include one member from each of the conferences named in Bylaw 21.2.1-(a) that sponsors the sport; one member from each of the three highest ranked other conferences based on rowing success; two at-large members from the remaining conferences that sponsor the sport; and one two student-athletes. Rowing success shall be defined as the total number of points scored by a conference in the previous five NCAA championships. The nonvoting members shall include a faculty athletics representative and a coaches association representative.

[21.6.12.1 unchanged.]

[21.6.13 through 21.6.19 unchanged.]

21.6.20 Men's Wrestling Oversight Committee. The Men's Wrestling Oversight Committee shall include eight nine voting members and four nonvoting members. The voting members shall include one member from each of the conferences named in Bylaw 21.2.1-(a) that sponsors the sport; one member from each of the two highest ranked other conferences based on wrestling success; two at-large members from the remaining conferences that sponsor the sport; and one two student-athletes. Wrestling success is defined as total conference appearances plus total conference wins in the previous five NCAA championships. The nonvoting members shall include a faculty athletics representative, a coaches association representative, an officials coordinator and a secretary-rules editor.

[21.7 through 21.10 unchanged.]