California’s expanded ban on state-funded travel to states that discriminate against LGBT people could "trip up intercollegiate athletic teams in the coming years," according to Bodley, Gorcey & Asimov of the S.F. CHRONICLE. As of last Thursday, state employees are "banned from traveling on the public dime to eight states" -- Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas. California state Attorney General Xavier Becerra expanded the list from four to eight states, and his office on Friday indicated that it had "received a request for a legal opinion on whether the ban applies to 'athletic team staffs'" at the Univ. of California and Cal State. His office "did not respond when asked who had made the request." Bodley, Gorcey & Asimov noted the news that Texas has been added to the travel ban has "made some sports fans nervous at San Jose State." SJSU PR Dir Lawrence Fan has been getting questions about whether the school will be "able to play its scheduled football game" at the Univ. of Texas in September. That game should go on, as the contract was "signed in September" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/24). The AP's Kim Chandler noted Fresno State’s football game at the Univ. of Alabama on Sept. 9 also is "expected to go on as scheduled." Alabama Vice Chancellor for Communications & Community Relations Kellee Reinhart said that the law "exempts contractual obligations entered into" before '17. The contract for the game was signed in '15. FSU Dir of Communications Matt Burkholder also said that they "don’t anticipate the game being affected, given the longstanding contract" (AP, 6/23).
HOW ARE COACHES IMPACTED? In Texas, Watkins & Platoff note a "lot is at stake for sports fans" with the new legislation, ranging from the "championship dreams of California teams to the future of championship matches in Texas." Many officials indicated that they "had no idea how the decision would play out." A question has come up as to whether the ban applies "to the coaches of California public university teams?" Most coaches "clearly need to travel to Texas," and California teams "regularly schedule games in Texas." Coaches also frequently visit the state "to recruit." Additionally, Texas "is a regular host of NCAA postseason events" -- San Antonio hosts the Final Four next year, while AT&T Stadium "regularly hosts games in the College Football Playoff." Coaches "are clearly state employees," though in some instances "travel costs aren't covered by state appropriations" (TEXASTRIBUNE.org, 6/23).
