New NIL Bill Allows For Return to College Post-Draft

United States senators continue to introduce bills surrounding the name, image and likeness issue in college athletics.

According to The Associated Press, Sen. Jerry Moran’s proposal — the fourth NIL bill to be introduced by the Senate since December — would allow student-athletes to earn money from endorsements, transfer easier and return to college after declaring themselves draft eligible.

“The Amateur Athletes Protection and Compensation Act would create a national standard of guidelines to make certain student athletes can benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness without hurting their eligibility to compete as a student athlete,” Moran, a republican from Kansas, said in a statement after proposing the bill Wednesday.

Related content: NCAA Proposes New Transfer, NIL Rules

Moran tweeted that, “It is vital to establish a consistent national standard for universities and student athletes. My bill strikes an appropriate balance as we work to #EmpowerAthletes while maintaining the integrity of college sports that we all know and love.”

Moran’s tweet spelled out six ways in which The Amateur Athlete Protection and Compensation Act would empower amateur athletes. The bill would do so by:

• Authorizing compensation for name, image and likeness
• Expanding institution health care coverage
• Establishing one national set of rules to govern NIL
• Protecting their eligibility to play college sports
• Allowing athletes to enter the draft and then return to college
• Enabling penalty-free transfers

Moran’s bill would create an independent body to oversee NIL regulations, while also permitting athletes to have agents, giving athletes a lifetime undergraduate scholarship, and pushing schools to cover college athletes’ medical expenses because of injuries suffered during college even after their careers.

In early January, the NCAA tabled a vote that would have updated rules that dictate how athletes are allowed to benefit from NIL. The Division I Council decided it needed more information before voting on the proposal.

Related content: NCAA Expected to Delay NIL Vote Amid D.C. Changeover

States have also been working on compensation for student-athletes. California started the movement of state’s introducing their own NIL bills. California’s law is scheduled to take effect in 2023, while Florida’s NIL law is scheduled to begin July 1.

Related content: Senator Chris Murphy Introduces New NIL Bill