Buffalo, NY (WBEN) A state senator from Brooklyn believes college athletes should be compensated more than a scholarship for hitting both the field and the books.
Other states have been considering this issue. Earlier this month, the California legislature approved a Fair Pay to Play Act, which if signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, would prohibit the NCAA from penalizing California institutions from allowing student athletes to receive compensation for the use of their name, image and/or likeness.
"The NCAA didn't budge from its historic position in the O'Bannon case," says UB's Nellie Drew, referring to the antitrust class action lawsuit filed by former UCLA basketball player Ed O'Bannon to allow former college athletes to be compensated for the NCAA's commercial use of a player's image. "The NCAA sent Gov. Newsom a letter urging him to veto the bill – which passed both the California Senate and Assembly unanimously."
The problem with bills passing state by state is it could lead to a hopscotch approach to NCAA enforcement and other matters. "You would have the NCAA time to enforce amateur regulations only in jurisdictions where it's still legal for it to do so. This would also lead to chaos with eligibility and recruiting among other issues," explains Drew.
Drew says she would not be surprised if it's passed in New York. Parker syas he will make his bill a top priority in Albany. He says he will also talk with colleges in the coming weeks for their thoughts on the issue.
