Arkansas House Bill HB1679

Arkansas 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/17/23
• Refer: 3/27/23
• Report Pass: 3/30/23

Caption

To Create The Arkansas Legislative Study On High School Student-athlete Publicity Rights.

Impact

The proposed study, to be conducted by the House and Senate Committees on Education, will evaluate best practices from other states that have implemented similar measures. By examining various aspects such as governance, eligibility requirements, and the potential impacts on student-athletes and their schools, the study aims to gather comprehensive insights that could inform future legislation. The final report from this study is expected by October 31, 2024.

Summary

House Bill 1679 seeks to establish the Arkansas Legislative Study on High School Student-Athlete Publicity Rights. The bill aims to initiate a study that will assess the necessity and feasibility of allowing high school student-athletes to enter into contracts that permit them to receive compensation for the use of their names, images, and likenesses. This is a response to a growing national discourse on the rights of student-athletes, particularly amidst changes in collegiate sports regarding their ability to profit from their publicity rights.

Contention

While HB1679 represents a progressive step towards acknowledging the rights of high school athletes, there may be contention regarding the implications of allowing high school students to profit from publicity rights. Concerns could arise from educational and sports communities about how such a policy might affect the integrity of high school sports, the potential for exploitation of young athletes, and disparities between schools with different levels of financial resources that might be able to support such contracts.