Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

Third Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. Mark Aeron H. Sambar

EXPLANATORY

The Constitution, Article 2, Section 17 states:

The State shall give priority to education, science and technology,
arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate
social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.

Student athletes generate large revenues for many athletic programs, Alumni and
sponsors are more willing to contribute if the cause is for their basketball, volleyball or
football team whose games are sometimes televised or hosted by big corporations. Student
athletes spend approximately 40 hours per week participating in their respective sports yet
they suffer historically low graduation rates, Providing adequate health and safety protection
for student athletes can help prevent serious injury and death. Current and former student
athletes can be left to pay for medical expenses incurred ftom injuries suffered while
participating in intercollegiate athletics. Institutions of higher education should provide their
student athletes with the same due process protection afforded to students who do not

participate in athletics,

‘This bill seeks to protect student athletes. If we are serious about a national sports

program, we should start with measures that safeguard the welfare of our youth.

den IN H. SAMBAR

ive, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party List



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

Third Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. Mark Aeron H. Sambar

AN ACT
TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF STUDENT ATHLETES
WHO PARTICIPATE IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Student Athlete Protection Act of

2012."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies and Objectives. ~ Pursuant to Article 2, Sec. 17
of the Constitution, The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts,
culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and
promote total human liberation and development

In addition to this, Article 10, Section 19, paragraph 1 provides that the State shall
promote physical education and encourage sports programs, league competitions and amateur
sports, including training for international competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork,

and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.


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‘Towards this end, it is the view of the Legislature that meeting the educational needs

of student athletes should be a priority for collegiate athletic programs

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. ~ For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined
as follows:

(a) "Athletic program" shall mean an intercollegiate athletic program at any higher
education institution;

(b) “Higher education institution” shall refer to private tertiary educational
establishments

(c) "Student athlete” means any college student who participates in an intercollegiate
athletic program of an institution of higher education, and includes student athletes who

participate in basketball, football or any other intercollegiate sport

SECTION 4. Continued Scholarship in Case of Injury. ~ If an athletic program does
not renew an athletic scholarship of a student athlete who suffers an incapacitating injury or
illness resulting from his or her participation in the athletic program, and the higher education
institution’s (HEI) medical staff determines that he or she is medically ineligible to
participate in intercollegiate athletics, the HEI shall provide an equivalent scholarship that,
combined with the total duration of any previous athletic scholarship or scholarships received
by the student athlete, will be provided for a total of up to five academic years or until the
student athlete completes his or her undergraduate degree, whichever period is shorter.
Additional years may be provided at the discretion of the HEL

If a student athlete takes a temporary leave of absence from a higher education
institution, the duration of that leave of absence shall not count against the five-year limit on

eligibility for an equivalent scholarship imposed by the first paragraph of this Section.


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SECTION 5. Financial and Life Skills Workshop. ~ Each athletic program shall
conduct a financial and life skills workshop for all of its first-year and third-year student

athletes at the beginning of the academic year. This workshop shall include, but not be

limited to, information concerning financial aid, debt management, and a recommended

budget for full- and partial-scholarship student athletes living on or off campus during the
academic year and the summer term based on the current academic year’s cost of attendance
The workshop shall also include information on time management skills necessary for

success as a student athlete, and academic resources available on campus.

SECTION 6. Additional Requirements for Athletic Programs. — An athletic program
shall adopt and implement guidelines to prevent, assess, and treat sports-related concussions,
injuries and dehydration. In addition, an athletic program shall adopt and implement exercise
and supervision guidelines for any student athlete identified with potentially life-threatening

health conditions who participates in an athletic program.

SECTION 7, All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations
or part thereof, contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby

repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Should any provision of this Act be found unconstitutional by a court of
law, such provision shall be severed from the remainder of this Act, and such action shall not

affect the enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Act.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication

in any two (2) national newspapers of general circulation

Approved,

2)