In a move of defiance against the NCAA, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law the Fair Pay to Play Act on Monday, which will allow student athletes to accept money from endorsements without the threat of punishment from their host institutions.
Colleges reap billions from student athletes but block them from earning a single dollar. That’s a bankrupt model.
I just signed the Fair Play to Pay Act with @KingJames — making CA the first state to allow student athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness. pic.twitter.com/aWE9OL9r1v
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 30, 2019
The law will take effect in January of 2023, and fundamentally changes one of the core tenants of the NCAA’s policies regarding student athletes. The law will also allow student athletes in California to hire agents to work on their behalf and will not require schools to pay their athletes as employees, but rather will prevent the schools from blocking endorsement payments to their athletes.
The signing of the bill was hosted on LeBron James’ The Uninterrupted. He praised the governor for allowing students the opportunity to change their lives for the better,
I’m so incredibly proud to share this moment with all of you. @gavinnewsom came to The Shop to do something that will change the lives for countless athletes who deserve it! @uninterrupted hosted the formal signing for SB 206 allowing college athletes to responsibly get paid. pic.twitter.com/NZQGg6PY9d
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 30, 2019
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