The California State Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that could eventually lead to collegiate athletes in the state being compensated for the use of their name, image or likeness.
Steve Berkowitz of USA Today Sports shared this breaking news, noting the vote was 31-4 in favor of the bill, and that it will now move to the state assembly.
He also shared that Senator Nancy Skinner was the person who introduced the bill, and that she acknowledged during the debate that colleges in the state could “suffer consequences” if this bill ends up passed. She also said “California would hopefully not be acting alone” by the time the bill would go into effect (Jan. 1 of 2023).
College athletes, of course, are currently not allowed any compensation whatsoever. Many student-athletes have been dealt harsh suspensions for receiving even small amounts of compensation for signing autographs and other activities along those lines.
Even if the bill is passed by the state assembly and Governor Gavin Newsom signs it into law, we’re betting the NCAA will have something to say about it when it’s all said and done.