U.S. senator Roger Wicker has reintroduced a bill that he believes would “protect students from exploitation and preserve amateurism in college sports.”
Similar to a bill that Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, introduced in December 2020, the Collegiate Athlete Compensation Rights Act would ultimately legalize a student-athlete’s right to earn compensation for the use of their NIL while also prohibiting boosters and schools from using NIL in recruiting.
“To protect the players, maintain a level playing field in college sports, and preserve as much as we can of the amateur nature of college sports, it is imperative that Congress establish a uniform set of standards governing the NIL marketplace,” Wicker said, as reported by SuperTalk Mississippi Media. “This renewed proposal will help protect college athletes’ right to enter into [NIL] agreements, while also ensuring that these agreements are not pay-for-play schemes or incentives for college commitments or transfers.”
Courtesy of Wicker’s office, here is a run-down of the legislation:
- Enshrine in federal law the right of student-athletes to earn compensation for the use of their name, image, and likeness
- Protect student-athletes and their families from deceptive business practices and exploitation by unscrupulous actors
- Establish a uniform, national framework for student-athlete NIL compensation to ensure student-athletes in every state are provided the same rights and opportunities
- Provide educational resources to student-athletes regarding smart and safe ways to earn compensation for the use of their NIL
- Preserve the unique amateur nature of college sports by prohibiting institutions and boosters from using NIL to induce prospective student-athletes or transfers to attend a specific institution
- Create an Office of Sport at the Federal Trade Commission to provide the agency with the focus and expertise needed to combat unfair and deceptive practices related to NIL
- Direct the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to Congress on the health, safety, and education needs of student-athletes
