PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia City Council got a bill in the last week that would fund legal help for high school athletes who get offered business deals for what could turn into their “brand.”
Called NIL deals — for name, image and likeness — they are the byproduct of last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows college athletes to make money by licensing their NIL rights to a third party.
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas says business deals of this sort will be coming to high school students soon. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association is set to take a final vote on NIL contracts in December.
Thomas fears that naïve young people might be persuaded to sign away these rights for less than they’re worth.
“These are opportunities that could change a young person’s life, but at the same time we also know there’s a lot of predatory behavior that exists whenever money is involved,” Thomas said.
His bill would create a $100,000 fund to provide up to five hours of legal and financial representation for students who have been, or who are likely to be, offered such deals. It would also require the city to distribute educational materials to student athletes.
Thomas says it’s the first bill of its kind in the country.