New legislation would give student-athletes more power over endorsements, eligibility, NIL

New, wide-ranging legislation introduced Wednesday would allow college student-athletes and recruits to sign endorsement deals, athletes to enter professional drafts and not lose eligibility, and establish an independent body to “create and enforce rules and best practices” related to name, image and likeness.

The bill, known as the Amateur Athletes Protection and Compensation Act of 2021, was introduced by Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas.

It also would prevent schools from removing athletes from scholarship due to injury, ability or performance; require that schools cover the full cost of scholarship until a student-athlete completes their undergraduate degree; and compel schools to cover all out-of-pocket medical expenses for any injury suffered due to athletic participation.

“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 said in a statement.

“Athletics teach young men and women many valuable skills that serve them throughout their life, and it’s important to protect their ability to pursue an education while allowing them to capitalize on their name, image and likeness as a student athlete.”

The proposed independent body, the Amateur Intercollegiate Athletics Corporation, would also be responsible for enforcing the certification process for athlete representatives.

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