Senators Lay Out Plan For College Athletes Bill Of Rights

AP – A group of senators led by Cory Booker of New Jersey and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut on Thursday released a plan for reforming college sports with an athletes bill or rights.

The legislative plan calls for college athletes to have the ability to earn money for their names, images and likenesses with “minimal restrictions,” and much more.

The senators also want to ensure for the athletes long-term medical coverage and treatment, enforceable medical standards, academic freedom and revenue sharing agreements.

NEWS: US senators are introducing an “athletes bill of rights” to:
-allow group-license deals (NCAA video game!) & revenue sharing
-ban Letters of Intent
-create lifetime scholarships
-require school transparency

“This isn’t radical – it’s just right.”https://t.co/MtzSwIhTB0

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 13, 2020

Last month, NCAA President Mark Emmert appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a hearing about name, image and likeness. Booker and Blumenthal questioned Emmert about athlete welfare and said then their plan for a bill of rights was in the works.

Booker and Blumenthal were joined in a statement by seven other senators, including Democrats Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a frequent NCAA critic, and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris of California.

“As a former college athlete, this issue is personal to me,” said Booker, who played football at Stanford. “The NCAA has failed generations of young men and women even when it comes to their most basic responsibility — keeping the athletes under their charge healthy and safe. The time has come for change.”

𝐍𝐂𝐀𝐀 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 | 𝐄𝐩 𝟐𝟎
𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 & 𝘊𝘖𝘝𝘐𝘋-19

NCAA President Mark Emmert, NCAA CMO Dr. Brian Hainline and @UKYPres Dr. Eli Capilouto join @TheAndyKatz to discuss the landscape of college sports this fall. https://t.co/TMrqqtkQUC

— NCAA (@NCAA) August 7, 2020

The NCAA is in the process of changing its rules to permit athletes to earn money off their names, images and likenesses for things like endorsements and appearances.

The association has asked for help from Congress to relieve pressure from state lawmakers. California, Florida and Colorado have already passed bills. Florida’s would take effect in 2021.

Federal lawmakers have said they intend to get involved but are wary of granting antitrust protections to the NCAA, which wants to provide athletes with rights regarding name, image and likeness but with some regulation.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida already introduced an NCAA-friendly bill that would shield the association from legal challenges to its name, image and likeness rules.

Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, an Ohio Republican and former Ohio State football player, has also said he is working on a bill related to college sports.