Louisiana Senate Bill SB60

Louisiana 2021 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/22/21
• Refer: 3/22/21
• Refer: 4/12/21
• Report Pass: 5/3/21
• Refer: 5/4/21
• Report Pass: 5/12/21
• Engrossed: 5/18/21
• Refer: 5/19/21
• Report Pass: 5/27/21
• Enrolled: 6/9/21
• Chaptered: 7/1/21
• Passed: 7/1/21

Caption

Provides relative to the compensation of intercollegiate athletes for the use of their name, image, or likeness. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE SG EX See Note)

Impact

The adoption of SB 60 represents a significant shift in the regulation of college athletics, providing intercollegiate athletes with rights previously reserved for amateur competitors. It will require postsecondary institutions to revise their policies, as they cannot restrict athletes from earning NIL compensation. This measure aims to protect athletes from unauthorized exploitation and ensures they can profit from their personal brand, fundamentally changing the financial landscape for student-athletes.

Summary

Senate Bill 60 establishes a new framework for compensation of intercollegiate athletes in Louisiana by allowing them to earn income from the commercial use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL). The bill recognizes the significant educational opportunities provided by intercollegiate athletics while ensuring that an athlete's ability to earn compensation is not unduly restricted by their postsecondary institution. It emphasizes that such compensation should align with market value and assures that educational grants or scholarships will not be affected by the earnings from NIL activities.

Sentiment

The sentiment around SB 60 appears overwhelmingly positive among its supporters, primarily calling for a fair and just mechanism for athletes to benefit from their popularity. Legislators and advocates view this bill as a necessary modernization of college sports, aligning them more closely with professional athletics. Nevertheless, some concerns were raised about the potential for abuses and conflicts of interest, as postsecondary institutions were prohibited from compensating athletes directly or using outside boosters to facilitate compensation.

Contention

Notable points of contention stem from concerns about the integrity of amateur athletics and the over-commercialization of college sports. Critics worry that enabling athletes to capitalize on their NIL could lead to potential conflicts with institutional sponsorships, changes in recruitment dynamics, and the erosion of traditional amateur values in college athletics. The bill's implementation could lead to uneven opportunities among athletes based on their marketability, raising pressing questions about fairness and equity in college sports.