A bill passed the Senate that allows university athletes to receive compensation for the use of their name and image. House Republican C. Scott Bounds of Philadelphia, says more states are allowing the practice because it gives them a recruitment advantage. He says House Bill 1030 allows collegiate athletes to also hire an agent to manage their affairs.
“Florida has already passed this bill, okay, goes into effect, July of this year. Other surrounding states legislatures are looking at this. Southeastern conference schools are looking at this in these states,” said Bounds.
Bounds says athletes will not be allowed to promote alcohol or tobacco. Republican Becky Currie of Brookhaven, added an amendment that doesn’t allow male students to play on female teams and receive compensation.
“If a student athlete sex is disputed, the student athlete may establish his or her sex by presenting a signed physician’s agreement which will indicated the student athlete’s sex,” said Currie.
House Democrat John Hines of Greenville, asked what’s the process for handling students who may have both sex organs and want to play university sports.
“You do know it’s coming,” said Hines. “Well, gentleman I do not know that it’s coming. I would say that anything that we pass down here I guess is always subject to some type of lawsuit,” said Bounds.
The ACLU issued a statement in support of compensating college athletes, but they’re calling on lawmakers to remove the amendment, which they say discriminates against transgender women. They added if the state is sued, the law will be struck down in court.
