Lawmakers paving the way for student athletes pay for play

by | Dec 17, 2019


Governor Ron DeSantis thinks student athletes deserve to be compensated, and Florida lawmakers are working with NCAA representatives to see what they can do about it.

Last month, DeSantis expressed support for HB 251, which establishes a framework that would grant student athletes the right to be compensated for their athletic accomplishments. The bill resembles a California law that will go into effect in 2023.

The bill’s proposed language would provide a pathway for students participating in intercollegiate athletics to be paid for the use of their image or likeness and identifies the schools, organizations and individuals that would be regulated under the bill. It also establishes a task for that would study the issue in greater depth and provide recommendations to state leaders.

If passed, the bill wouldn’t take effect until January 1, 2023.

“If you were on scholarship for chemistry and somehow figured out a way to monetize that, no one would say anything,” said DeSantis. “Other people make a lot of money using their name, image and likeness but they under current NCAA rules are not permitted to do that.”

A sister bill has been filed in the Senate by State Senator Randolph Bracy, and has been referred to referred to multiple committees including Education; Innovation, Industry, and Technology; and Rules on November 1, 2019. The Senate version of the bill would take effect this summer.

Two other bills touching on student-athlete compensation have also been filed. HB 287 by Representative Chip LaMarca, and Representative Byron Donalds and SB 646 by Senator Debbie Mayfield

U.S. Rep Al Lawson, Dem-FL, wants to create a Congressional Select Committee on Student Athletes. His purpose seems to primarily focus on the experiences and concerns of Student Athletes and form a committee to help discuss and navigate these concerns.

1 Comment

  1. ZacharyS

    Alyssa, we at Student Player (www.studentplayer.com) would love to connect. There is lots of chatter about laws being passed, but few are covering how it will actually work. Student Player has the answer and fans can make contributions today!

 

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