Two Florida legislators have introduced two new bills that would allow student-athletes to receive compensation for the use of their likeness or name.
Kionne McGhee (D-Miami) moved the House Bill 251, while Rep. Chip LaMarca introduced the House Bill 251. Both the legislations seeks to allow student-athletes the use of their name, image and likeness under House Bill 3904, or the Student-Athlete Endorsement Act, according to WJCT report.
“Authorizes students participating in intercollegiate athletics to receive specified compensation; provides requirements for specified students, postsecondary educational institutions, certain organizations, & specified representatives; & creates Florida College System Athlete Name, Image, & Likeness Task Force,” the HB 251 bill states.
I look forward to working with our student athletes and university leaders on this important bill.
The time to act is now – 2020 is the year that our student athletes will enter the free market❗️ #FlaPol #Sayfie #SAAchievementAct https://t.co/zuUPZF5DSV— Chip LaMarca❗️ (@ChipLaMarca) October 4, 2019
Last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 206, or The Fair Pay to Play Act, allowing college athletes to sign sponsorship deals and receive compensation.
Immediately after the bill was signed, the lawmakers from many states including Illinois, South Carolina and New York took the lead to introduce similar bills.
The NCAA has maintained that such bills are “harmful” and “unconstitutional” saying that it would erase the line dividing college and professional athletics and throw to wind the fairness that is associated with the college sports.