SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is the first state to pass a law allowing college athletes to hire agents and get paid for use of their name, image or likeness. Some things to know about the new legislation:
WHAT DOES THE LAW DO?
It lets college athletes at public and private schools in California hire agents and get paid for the use of their name, image or likeness. It does not apply to community colleges.
DO SCHOOLS HAVE TO PAY ATHLETES?
No. Student athletes won't get salaries like professional athletes do. But it will let them earn money in other ways, such as signing endorsement deals with shoe companies or appearing in a commercial for a local business.
WHEN DOES IT TAKE EFFECT?
Jan. 1, 2023.
CAN STUDENT ATHLETES WITH ENDORSEMENT DEALS KEEP THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS?
Yes. The law bans schools from revoking scholarships from players who sign endorsement deals.
CAN ATHLETES SIGN ANY ENDORSEMENT DEAL THEY WANT?
No. Student athletes cannot sign endorsement deals that conflict with their school's existing contracts. For example: If a school has a contract with Nike, student athletes at that school could not sign endorsement deals with Under Armour or any other Nike competitor.
WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP FOR THE NCAA?
A 19-member working group is expected to make formal recommendations to the NCAA's Board of Governors on Oct. 28 and 29 in Atlanta. There appears to be an appetite to at least loosen some of the NCAA's long-standing rules on amateurism.
